Thursday, April 28, 2011

Song Review: Saibo (Shor in the City)

Film: Shor in the City (Release Date: April 28, 2011)
Singers: Shreya Ghoshal and Tochi Raina
Composer: Sachin-Jigar

As you might be able to tell from my previous song reviews, I tend to prefer sizzling, dhamakedaar, fast-paced, party songs. So it's a bit rare that I fall in love with a slow love ballad. But "Saibo" is a song that I literally cannot stop listening to.

The enthralling thing about "Saibo" is that  it's the perfect mix of traditional and modern. The song begins slowly with Shreya's captivating voice and you thing you're in for a run-of-the-mill emotional love song. But when Tochi Raina comes in with the chorus, the song picks up the pace just a bit. What I especially like here is the split between the traditional words and pronunciations with the more modern musical style.

Shreya's voice and Tochi's voice, though different in style, mesh perfectly together in this song. Sometimes I find Shreya's voice to be a bit too high, but she does an amazing job with this track. Tochi, an up and coming Sufi singer, will surely gain widespread recognition after "Saibo." We've heard him before in "Gal Mithi Mithi Bol" from Aisha--which, in my opinion, was one of the most underrated songs of 2010. In "Saibo" Tochi's voice is almost mystifying.

My only real complaint about "Saibo"? It's too short!!! At just over 3 minutes long, it leaves the listener craving for more. I really think it could've been successfully stretched out to at least 4 minutes. "Saibo" with its fusion style will appeal to audiences of all ages and generations. On top of that, we get a song with actual sentimental meaning and well-thought lyrics. Be sure to check it out!


Final Verdict: 4/5

Thursday, April 21, 2011

"Ready" Banks on "Dabangg"

A lot of the time, Bollywood film marketing strategies seem to be fairly transparent as they tend to simply ride on star power. But after reading this article I realized how unsettling it is when a producer or director actually admits it.

Ready is an upcoming entertainer starring Salman Khan and Asin. I already mentioned before that it seemed that Sallu's character was going to be similar to his character in Dabangg which could possibly lead him to a comfort zone from which he may rarely emerge. Clearly, the producers of Ready are aware of how marketable the success of Dabangg is, and are using it to their advantage as explicitly mentioned by co-producer Bhushan Kumar in the aforementioned article.

Really. REALLY? It's already clear that you're just banking on the success of Dabangg to market Ready, but to actually admit is almost...shameless. Apparently Kumar said: “We have no intention of taking Ready into a different direction. Dabangg used only Salman for it's marketing. He was everywhere. For Ready too we are following a similar formula.” UGH. Well, that explains the lack of Asin in the first look promos. 

No, but seriously. A lot of Bollywood films really do market the star power of the film in order to draw audiences in. But there's something to say about subtlety. While it is pretty bold of Kumar to admit the tactics used for Ready, they've made it so apparent in the entire publicity blitz surrounding the film that Kumar's words just seem kind of arrogant. Almost like, "Yeah. We're manipulating audiences. Because we can." 

I knew from the start that Ready was probably going to be similar to Dabangg. At least we all know for sure now. 


Source: http://www.apunkachoice.com/content/article/sid100005174-salman_khans_ready_rides_on_dabangg_magic/

Yesteryear's Actresses Rock it as Cover Girls!

I've been meaning to post about this for a while, but it always makes me so happy to see retired B-Town actresses on magazine covers--alive and well, and looking as beautiful as ever. Recently, Madhuri Dixit made a splash with her Filmfare magazine cover but here are a couple more actresses also rockin' it:

Sridevi! This 80s bombshell, at 47 years old, looks sensational in her Asia Spa Magazine cover. I can't get over it--the woman is 47 years old and looks simply amazing. Yes, of course there's photoshop/airbrushing involved, but natural beauty still has a lot to do with it. Few contemporary actresses can claim her subtle sex appeal and natural elegance. We haven't seen her in a leading role since 1997's Judaai (one of my favorite movies of all time) but Sridevi does manage to pop up every once in a while, like in a special appearance in Halla Bol (2008) or her nostalgic Filmfare 2007 dance performance.

At only 36 years old, it almost pains me to refer to Karishma Kapoor as a "yesteryear" actress, but since we haven't seen her in a decent leading role since 2002's Shakti, I think the term fits. Lolo also looks fabulous on this L'Officiel cover. Her hair is perfect (I'm loving the long locks) and she's managed to keep her figure after 2 children. The crowd of male models around her holding her pictures is a little...well...creepy to me. Regardless, Karishma is the star of the show and pretty much looks as gorgeous as ever.

It's unfortunate that Bollywood actresses careers tend to end so early (while male actors usually work as leading men well into their 40s and 50s). Sridevi and Karishma prove that even in their late 30s and 40s, they can work it! Now, it's Bollywood's turn to be more receptive to older, more mature leading ladies with actual acting talent and experience. One can only hope...

Sunday, April 17, 2011

What ever happened to...Sneha Ullal?

Nope, that's not Aishwarya Rai! She may have only appeared in one (okay, two) Bollywood movies, but Sneha Ullal still left an impression on my mind--not for any exceptional acting skills, but mostly for the ultra hype surrounding her "debut."

Sneha was touted as Salman Khan's "discovery" back in 2005 when she appeared alongside him in Lucky: No Time for Love. She was a big deal for two main reasons. First, was her uncanny resemblance to Aish (sorry, but no one can doubt that). Second, was the fact that she was only 17 at the time of the film's release! So, basically, she was the leading lady to a man over twice her age. Awkward.

Lucky was just a weird movie. No other real way to describe it. The next year, Sneha appeared in Aryan with Sohail Khan, which was a box office disaster. And that was basically the end of Sneha's Bollywood career (although apparently she was in some movie called Click in 2010?). After her Bollywood fail, Sneha went on to work in Telegu movies with limited success.

Sneha wasn't some amazing actress, but she was only 17 at the time. I feel like she never got the chance to reach her full potential. Her main pitfall? I'm pretty sure it was her resemblance to Aish. If you look like a megastar, you're bound to be compared to them--and fail. Remember Harman Baweja? Or Zarine Khan (though it's too early to determine her Bollywood fate.)? I feel bad for Sneha. She seemed cute, sweet, and definitely beautiful. But naturally, the Aish lovers would turn into Sneha haters and Sneha became a prime example of how appearing with an A-list actor doesn't determine future success.

The last time Sneha made (Bollywood) headlines was last year with rumors of her being a contestant on Bigg Boss 4--which clearly didn't happen. I have a feeling that Sneha Ullal will remain a name of the past, unless the poor girl manages to make her mark down South. She's currently only 23, after all!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Are you "Ready" for the first trailer?


The Desi twitterverse literally went ablaze when this official trailer for Salman Khan and Asin's Ready was released. The film is directed by Anees Bazmee (of No Entry, Singh is Kinng, etc.) and is being marketed as a comedy.

My first thought when I watched this promo: why do I feel like I'm watching a trailer for a late 90s movie? We've got dancing in the streets, (possibly) over-the-top comic relief provided by Paresh Rawal, the bashful heroine, and unrealistic actions scenes with a man with...dreads? Are those dreads? And let's not forget Salman's "dhamakedar" dialogues. This is all speculation from an under 2 minute trailer, of course.

I feel like, nowadays, the 90s-esque masala entertainers only truly work when they take a somewhat satirical form (think Om Shanti Om or Dabangg). Since Salman was in Dabangg and it was such a huge hit, I'm afraid he's going to stick to the same type of character or film in order to continue his success, especially after his failures with movies like Main Aur Mrs. Khanna and London Dreams. 

On the other hand, both Salman and Asin look great in the trailer! Sallu really looks young and fresh, especially for his age. Asin looks undeniably beautiful, and I'm excited to finally see more of her after Ghajini (let's not count London Dreams). I'm also looking forward to the music. Masala entertainers almost always have great music on their side, and judging from the promo, we should be getting a good batch of songs.

Ready will be ready for release on June 3, 2011 (haha, the "ready" puns really don't get old, do they?).

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Shahrukh Khan's Performance at the IPL 4 Opening Ceremony

It took me forever to find a decent video, but here it is: Shahrukh Khan and Shriya Saran's much talked about performance at the IPL 4 opening ceremony in Chennai. It wasn't as completely dazzling as it was hyped up to be, but I always love me some SRK. Observations:

* King Khan looks amazing as usual. No surprise there!

* Shahrukh's no Hrithik/Shahid when it comes to dancing (although he has his own charm!), but I was really hoping for some more movement from him in the "Love Mera Hit Hit" segment. It seemed like the fireworks did most of the dancing.

* Dude...Shahrukh...what's up with those Kareena Kapoor pants? Clearly the costume designer didn't realize that this isn't "Mauja Hi Mauja." And that Shahrukh isn't a woman.

* The costume changing thing by Shriya was uhhhh-mazing. HOW do they do that?!

* Shahrukh redeemed himself and picked up the energy with the Southie songs. And they were all so cute!

* I should probably say more stuff about Shriya, but let's face it; I wasn't watching her.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Song Review: Laila O Laila (Chalo Dilli)


Film: Chalo Dilli (Release Date: April 29, 2011)
Singer: June Banerjee
Composer: Gourov Dasgupta

The track "Laila O Laila" from the forthcoming film Chalo Dilli is the much talked about item song picturized on Yana Gupta and obviously adapted from the 1980 hit of the same title from the film Qurbani. While I will try my best not to compare the song to the original (listen to it here), let me just say that I read reports saying that the new song is virtually "unaltered" from the original track, and that is simply not true. The music is different, the singer is different, and the pace is different. If that's not "altered" then I don't know what is. Now, on to the revamped "Laila O Laila"!

The first minute or so of the song left me in sheer confusion (and terror!) to be honest. It starts off with soft, slow crooning, which many songs do. But this particular opening was so long and drawn out that I was wondering whether I was listening to a bhajan or an item number. But if you manage to stay awake through the first minute and 10 seconds of the song, it does get better! 

The music is hands-down the best part of this track. Once the main beat hits, you remain captivated by the song; it's very traditional and Desi, but at the same time modern and dance-able. I wasn't sure how "Laila O Laila" would work as an item song (especially one featuring Yana) but after hearing it, it's clear that this song was meant to be a sexy item number. The lyrics seem to be pretty similar to the original, but the new music really spices them up.

I'm not really sure about the singing, however. June Banerjee is clearly talented but I feel like this voice didn't suit the song. I understand what they were going for in trying to portray a type of "village vamp" (think Munni!) but I think they went a little too far and June's voice often sounded plain drunk rather than sexy. This is mostly evident in her singing the actual "Laila O Laila" chorus--she seems to do fine with the rest of the song. 

Ultimately, the new "Laila" excels music-wise, but the needlessly long intro and June's over-the-top singing are a few significant drawbacks. But, in the end, it's still fun, catchy, and item-number worthy.

Final Verdict: 3/5

Monday, April 11, 2011

What ever happened to...Antara Mali?

Okay, so I'm starting a new little feature where I look at promising Bollywood actors/actresses who never really made it, or those who did but seem to have fallen off the face of the earth. My first subject? Antara Mali. 

Remember Antara? The gorgeous bombshell with a body to die for and abs to kill for? She often collaborated with Ram Gopal Varma, initially appearing in small roles in films like Prema Katha, Mast, and Khiladi 420 (I honestly don't remember her in any of these films). Antara finally made her mark in the 2002 film Company in a critically acclaimed performance for which she received a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Antara seemed to bear a slight resemblance to Daud-era Urmila Matondkar, another one of RGV's favorites. Coincidence? Hmmm...

Antara was an unconventional actress. She never played a "typical" Bollywood heroine. Her roles were different and her films often unusual (note: Road, Naach, Gayab). I fell in love with Antara in 2003 after watching the hugely underrated film Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon. With this film, Antara proved herself to be perhaps the only actress able to actually compete with Madhuri's dancing skills.














Main Madhuri... was not at all a commercial success to the point where it was actually pulled out of many cinemas midweek due to poor box office performance. After this film came the failed Naach and Gayab. Antara once again displayed her superior acting dancing skills in Naach but lack of a compelling story made the film an understandable failure. In 2005, Antara tried her hand at directing in the film Mr. Ya Miss where she also starred alongside Aftab Shivdasani. While the story was not an original one, the movie was funny and entertaining and Antara showcased her talents as a comedic actress.

After Mr. Ya Miss, Antara reportedly "quit" the film industry, never to be seen again. Or so I thought. Upon researching her current whereabouts, I found that Antara actually had a 2010 release that went largely unnoticed: an Amol Palekar film called And Once Again where she plays a bald Buddhist monk. I only found one review for the film, which was negative. But stills show that Antara is just as beautiful without hair on her head!

Unfortunately, And Once Again does not mark a comeback for Antara Mali who is currently married to GQ editor Che Kurrien and now lives life out of the spotlight. In her relatively short film career, Antara managed to make an impact on my Bollywood life, as I still recognize her as one of the most beautiful and talented Hindi film actresses. I urge you to check out Road and Main Madhuri... if you haven't already!

"Ladies vs Ricky Bahl" is not a copy of "John Tucker Must Die"!

The film has barely begun shooting, but Ladies vs Ricky Bahl is already causing some controversy amid rumors that it is a copy of the 2006 Hollywood flick John Tucker Must Die. Anushka Sharma quickly, and rather pragmatically, rushes to the film's defense ensuring that the film is about a conman who cons girls for a living in order to make money. Sounds different enough to me!

In the interview, Anushka said one thing that really resonated with me:
"You know what, it's really sad but true that the first thing when a film is announced, so many out there want to start drawing parallels with what has already been made. No one cares that all of us are working hard on making an original product."

You go, Anushka! Pretty much every film ever made will have at least SOMETHING in common with another film out there--no need to obsess over it. And what's wrong with copies anyway? Sometimes they can work. I, for one, enjoyed We Are Family sooo much more than Step Mom. If someone is able to retell the same story in a slightly different way, then go for it!

In Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh team up once again with YRF productions and director Maneesh Sharma to deliver this forthcoming rom-com set to release this December.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/Ladies-not-a-copy-of-Jon-Tucker-Must-Die-Anushka/Article1-681956.aspx

Sunday, April 10, 2011

No Priyanka in "Dostana 2"?

It has been officially reported by Piggy Chops herself that she won't be a part of the forthcoming film Dostana 2. I guess this really isn't a surprise, considering her story pretty much ended in Dostana. But I'm hoping for at least a cameo from Priyanka in the sequel--which still seems entirely possible!

In case you didn't already know, Katrina Kaif will be the new leading lady in Dostana 2. Excuse me while a barf. Multiple times. First of all, was there really a need for a sequel at all? Don't get me wrong, I adored Dostana, but it didn't really seem like a movie that would need a sequel (unlike Don!). And, okay, if you're really going to make a sequel, what's Katrina Kaif going to add to it--besides a dose of terrible acting?

Bollywood isn't really known for creating stellar sequels, so I'm afraid that the Dostana brand will be tarnished with this upcoming potential disaster. Dostana was a groundbreaking (and hilarious) film mainly because of the premise of Abhishek and John's pseudo-homosexuality. If they use that same premise again, the sequel will have nothing new to offer. If they don't, it could turn into a lame, over-done romantic comedy. Annoying.

Perhaps Tarun Mansukhani will come up with something new and innovative for the sequel. If not, hopefully John and Abhishek can manage to save the show. Either way, I do hope to get at least a glimpse of my beloved Priyanka!

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Nothing-for-Priyanka-in-Dostana-2/articleshow/7924083.cms

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Yana Gupta to be the new "Laila"

Yana Gupta is set to perform to the legendary song "Laila O Laila" (originally performed by Zeenat Aman in Qurbani) in the upcoming film Chalo Dilli. Yana is no stranger to item numbers. Remember her kind of awkward, but still memorable "Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo" in the 2003 flick Dum?

Apparently, no "alterations" were made to the original song. I'm not exactly sure what that means. Is the song just not remixed? Does the song contain the original artists' voice and music? Either way, Zeenat is reportedly very happy with the final product. She basically threw a fit with the new remix of "Mit Jaaye Gham" which is a great song, in my opinion.

I love remixes. They make songs fun and danceable. That's all there is to it. No one's claiming to be "better" than the original, so why can't people just lighten up? Also, just because something is older doesn't inherently make it better. I find the original "Laila O Laila" to be a bit dull, and wouldn't mind if it was spiced up a little. A lot of people also seemed to have a problem with the raunchy lyrics and picturization of "Mit Jaaye Gham." Well, take a look at this newly released "Laila O Laila" trailer:


How is this any less risque than the Dum Maaro Dum song? Yana is practically extremely scantily clad in the song and dances pretty suggestively (which isn't a problem!). But just because she, as opposed to Deepika, is in Indian clothes rather than Western ones, how is this any less...well...slutty? While "Laila O Laila" is a more traditional item number, "Mit Jaaye Gham" is simply more modern. As India and the world around it is changing, people should understand that cinema will evolve along with it--and that includes item songs. It's fine to not like "Mit Jaaye Gham" as a song, but I think it's unfair to write it off simply because it's a remix of an older number.

But I digress. Yana seems to sizzle in this new item song, and even if the song itself isn't any different from the original, I'm excited to see what flavor Yana brings to it herself! Chalo Dilli releases at the end of the month.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Sonu Sood can't get his "act" together.


Apparently there was some trouble on the sets of the forthcoming film Bbuddah when Sonu Sood just wasn't able to compose himself in front of Amitabh Bachchan to shoot a rather rough scene. In the sequence, Sonu was supposed to rough up the Big B, at one point pushing him to the ground. Sonu was reportedly "panic-stricken" and when he was supposed to say some rude things to Amitabh in the scene, Sonu only managed after "cringing and apologizing after every shot." He apparently couldn't "handle the aggression against someone so senior and legendary."

When I read all this, I nearly hurled. Most actors are understandably probably very nervous to shoot with the Big B for the first time, but this is pretty ridiculous. There's a limit to this whole "respect" to legendary actors thing. It's called acting, Sonu. Grow a pair and do it. Where's your Singh is Kinng persona? Amitabh clearly didn't have a problem with the scene.

Call me cynical, but is it just me or does this all feel like one big publicity stunt for the film? Young actor shows himself to be virtuous by respecting his elders, therefore you should watch his film. Sounds like an effective marketing tactic to me...

Source: http://www.bollywoodworld.com/bollywood-news/amitabh-bachchan-leaves-sonu-sood-numb-on-sets-114607.html

Monday, April 4, 2011

Always Kabhi Kabhi - Theatrical Trailer


Check out this trailer for Shahrukh Khan's much awaited production Always Kabhi Kabhi. No, SRK is not starring in the film but this youthful venture is being produced by his home production company, Red Chillies Entertainment.

Always Kabhi Kabhi is directed by Roshan Abbas and doesn't star any big-name actors, but instead features fresh, young blood like Ali Faizal, Zoa Morani, Satyajeet Dubey, and Giselli Monteiro (remember Harleen Kaur from Love Aaj Kal?).

I just can't get the hang of Bollywood's rendition of "college" movies. This trailer gives a very Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na vibe (which, for the record, I did not like). I'm getting a really cheesy feel from Always Kabhi Kabhi. I'm not sure what college is actually like in India, but why do I feel that filmmakers tend to make it look more like high school than college? Does anyone really play pranks on professors, chase their friends through the halls, or spend their entire time being "awaara" in college? I'm not too sure. The only film I can think of that actually tackles the difficulty and reality of college fairly adequately is 3 Idiots.

Even though I think Bollywood generally needs to grow up in its depictions of college life, maybe Always Kabhi Kabhi will succeed at being a lighthearted entertainer. Or maybe it will prove me completely wrong and portray college in a semi-realistic way. I guess we'll see when the movie releases on June 17, 2011.

On a side note, doesn't Shahrukh look absolutely charming in this trailer?! That alone makes me want to see the film.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

IIFA 2011 Nominations Announced!


A couple days ago, the nominations for 11th annual IIFA  (International Indian Film Academy Awards) were announced. For those unaware, nominations are tabulated via voting from within the Indian film industry. This year, the ceremony will be held in Toronto, Canada in June. Here are the nominations for popular awards. My picks for each category (if I have one) are set in bold:

Best Film
Band Baaja Baraat
Dabangg
My Name is Khan
Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Raajneeti

Best Direction
Maneesh Sharma (Band Baaja Baraat)
Abhinav Kashyap (Dabangg)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Guzaarish)
Karan Johar (My Name is Khan)
Milan Luthria (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)
Vikramaditya Motwane (Udaan)

Performance in a Leading Role: Male
Salman Khan (Dabangg)
Hrithik Roshan (Guzaarish)
Shahrukh Khan (My Name is Khan)
Ajay Devgan (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)
Ranbir Kapoor (Rajneeti)

Performance in a Leading Role: Female
Anushka Sharma (Band Baaja Baraat)
Kareena Kapoor (Golmaal 3)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Guzaarish)
Vidya Balan (Ishqiya)
Katrina Kaif (Rajneeti)

Performance in a Supporting Role: Male
Mithun Chakrobarty (Golmaal 3)
Arshad Warsi (Ishqiya)
Emraan Hashmi (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)
Arjun Rampal (Rajneeti)
Manoj Bajpayee (Rajneeti)

Performance in a Supporting Role: Female
Amrita Puri (Aisha)
Dimple Kapadia (Dabangg)
Ratna Pathak Shah (Golmaal 3)
Shernaz Patel (Guzaarish)
Prachi Desai (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)

Performance in a Comic Role
Paresh Rawal (Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?)
Johny Lever (Golmaal 3)
Riteish Deshmukh (Housefull)
Anil Kapoor (No Problem)
Pradhuman Singh Mall (Tere Bin Laden)

Performance in a Negative Role
Naseeruddin Shah (Allah Ke Banday)
Sonu Sood (Dabangg)
Emraan Hashmi (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)
Manoj Bajpayee (Rajneeti)
Ronit Roy (Udaan)

Music Direction
Salim-Sulaimaan (Band Baaja Baraat)
Sajid-Wajid & Lalit Pandit (Dabangg)
Vishal-Shekhar (I Hate Luv Stories)
Vishal Bhardwaj (Ishqiya)
Shankar Ehsaan Loy (My Name is Khan)
Pritam (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)

Best Story
Band Baaja Baraat
Ishqiya
My Name is Khan
Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Udaan

Best Lyrics
Amitabh Bhattacharya- Ainvayi Ainvayi (Band Baaja Baraat)
Faaiz Awar- Tere Mast Mast (Dabangg) 
Gulzar- Dil Toh Bachcha (Ishqiya)
Niranjan Iyengar- Sajda (My Name is Khan)
Irshad Kamil- Pee Loon (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)

Playback Singer: Male
Vishal Dadlani- Adhoore (Break Ke Baad)
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan- Tere Mast Mast (Dabangg)
Shafqat Amanat Ali- Bin Tere (I Hate Luv Stories)
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan- Dil To Bachcha (Ishqiya)
Shankar Mahadevan- Uff Teri Adaa (Karthik Calling Karthik)
Mohit Chauhan- Pee Loon (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)

Playback Singer: Female
Sunidhi Chauhan- Ainvayi Ainvayi (Band Baaja Baraat)
Mamta Sharma- Munni Badnaam (Dabangg)
Shreya Ghoshal- Bahaara (I Hate Luv Stories)
Rekha Bhardwaj- Ab Mujhe Koi (Ishqiya)
Sunidhi Chauhan- Sheila Ki Jawani (Tees Maar Khan)

Screenplay
Dabangg
Guzaarish
Ishiqya
My Name is Khan
Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Raajneeti

Dialogue
Habib Faisal (Band Baaja Baraat)
Dilip Shukla, Abhinav Kashyap (Dabangg)
Vishal Bhardwaj (Ishqiya)
Rajat Aroraa (Once Upon a Time in Mumbai)
Prakash Jha (Rajneeti)

I hope this same thought is running through your head: WHERE IS KAJOL'S NOMINATION?! Not only did she do a stellar job in My Name is Khan, she actually won the Filmfare award for that same role earlier this year. How did Kareena's role in Golmaal 3 get her a nomination? And, just this once, I'll refrain from saying anything about Katrina Kaif. Kajol's lack of a nomination makes me lose a little respect for IIFA.

As you can tell from my picks, I have a clear bias toward My Name is Khan. Do you really blame me? That movie was wonderful. I'm really really hoping that Dabangg doesn't get that Best Film award like it did at Filmfare. I won't be surprised, however. Everyone else in the world (except me) seemed to love that movie. And Salman Khan is the new ambassador for IIFA.

How is Manoj Bajpayee nominated for his same role in Rajneeti in two different categories?

I'm almost certain Amrita Puri won't win that award for Best Supporting actress, but I still fell in love with her in Aisha.

I wonder if Munni and Sheila will share that Best Playback Singer award again...

What are your picks for IIFA 2011 winners?

Source: http://iifa.com/toronto2011/nominations.html#toplist