Chinese film industry races close to Bollywood

BEIJING: Box office earnings of the Chinese film industry have jumped a massive 64% in 2010, which is being regarded as a bad year for Bollywood. In fact, China's media regulators have predicted the local industry, regarded as a backward territory until recently, will surpass India and Japan by 2015.

The year 2010 saw a massive growth in the film industry with China 's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television reporting that a total of 500 films were made during the period. China ranked third behind Bollywood and Hollywood in terms of annual film output. It put the box office earnings of the local movie industry at $1.5 billion.

The Indian media has quoted film industry sources to say that the earnings in 2010 will be around Rs 10,000 crores ($2.2 billion) after rising 10-12 per cent over the 2009 revenue. The Indian industry has been caught in the 10-12% growth trend since 2008.
At present, the United States is ahead of all other markets as it notched box office revenue of $11 billion in 2010. Japan came second with $2.5 billion in earnings followed by India. China's media regulators expect China to overtake Japan by 2015.

The highest grosser in the Chinese market was a Hollywood film, Avatar, which earned $200 million accounting for over 13% of total sales. Next came a Chinese film, "Aftershock", that earned $100 million by telling the story of a earthquake. Another Chinese movie, "Let bullets fly" has made $75 million since its release in mid-December and its producers believe the total earnings will be much higher.

China's Film Bureau said in a statement that the country added 313 movie theatres. A total of 1,533 new screens were added resulting in a 25% growth in the country, which now has 6,200 screens.

Read more: Chinese film industry races close to Bollywood - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chinese-film-industry-races-close-to-Bollywood/articleshow/7254578.cms#ixzz1AfYSC7Vl

Bollywood's Obsession With Retro Beats In 2010

Retro beats have certainly had a great comeback this year with many big banner movies having at least one popular track from the retro years albeit with contemporary touch ups to woo the current generation.

So the question is has Bollywood been obsessed with the retro beats in 2010? Well the fact is that many films released during the year have the most popular retro numbers which indeed have added to their popularity quotient amongst the audiences.

Movies like Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, with the Parda number which had a mix of music composer R.D Burman's two of the greatest hits Duniya Mein and Monika sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Rana Mazumder,then the flick Houseful, which had the popular retro number Apni toh jaise taise from the 1981 flick Laawaris,or movie Golmaal 3 which had the Disco Dancer and Yaad Aa Raha Hai numbers from the movie Disco Dancer were all amongst the hit numbers of this year that had the younger generation humming to these retro numbers with equal enthusiasm as the older generation.

Now why is it that film makers are getting attracted to these retro numbers that have already seen an immense popularity during the retro years? Some reports suggests that it is due to the fact that since these numbers are already hits and are already registered in the memories of the people it becomes easier to make the audiences identify with these songs.

Others feel that since music composers are quite burdened with a lot of work there is hardly any time to invent new snazzy tunes everyday so going retro is a fast and easy way out to churn out popular numbers which has the potential of attracting audiences by the dozen.

However reports are that no matter how popular these retro numbers might be, but for commercial value as in terms of ring tones and down loads it is the original new numbers that are audience's picks!

Candice Boucher plays a sand artist in upcoming spy flick

Candice Boucher, a South African Playboy hottie who features in Percept's untitled next, essays the role of a sand artist in the espionage drama.

Directed by Prashant Chaddha (Aap Ka Surror), the film stars Sachin Joshi (the Managing Director of an energy drink endorsed by Shah Rukh Khan) and Arya Babbar.

The beauty had to train from a professional artiste for the role. She says, "Learning from a sand artiste from Belarus was an amazing experience.

It's an intricate art more difficult than oils and watercolours on canvas as sand keeps shifting all the time. One's concentration has to be sharper and more focussed."

As reported 'Playmate on board' (Hitlist, June 11), Candice was the nude centrespread attraction of Playboy magazine for April 2010 and is also the brand ambassador for an international jeans brand.

She was signed for the film during the FIFA World Cup in June (it was held in her home country) to up the project's glam quotient.

The movie is about an informant who has to go undercover to save his brother and the nation from the effects of a biological war.

German mag ' the face of global Bollywood'

A German-language magazine has been described as 'the face of global Bollywood'.

Ishq magazine, which is published in Berlin, is said to have a circulation of over 30,000, reports the Economic Times.

Chief Editor Julia Wessel commented: "No doubt Bollywood is a niche market in Germany but it has a loyal fanbase. And interestingly it is not just the non-resident Indians who read it."

Wessel said that Shah Rukh Khan, who has held premieres of some of his most recent releases in Berlin, is the country's most popular Hindi cinema star.

London correspondent Sunny Malik told "I think German fans have been very loyal to Bollywood. The Om Shanti Om premiere tickets in Berlin sold out within the first minute. Some were sold illegally for up to 600 Euros."

Shah Rukh Khan is currently filming Don 2 in the German capital.

What are Bollywood Hotties doing this New Year?

Beaches, mountains or just spending time with family and friends - Bollywood celebrities are all set to take a break from tinseltown to usher in the New Year. While Sushmita Sen and Shilpa Shetty are heading to the waters, Mugdha Godse and Minissha Lamba will be with their loved ones.
Minissha Lamba: This New Year I'm going to be with my close friends.

Shilpa Shetty: (I'm) really excited about the Mediterranean cruise we are taking with the family, my first ever, making it even more special. I will be out at sea for the next two weeks... (I) will be bringing in the New Year on the ship.

Jaya Prada: I will be in Hyderabad with my mother. I believe that New Year or any other festival is the time to be with your family. And next day, like all the previous years, I will be going to the Tirupati Balaji temple before returning to work.

Fardeen Khan: We are going to the mountains this year. I'm off on a romantic holiday in Shimla for five days with my wife (Natasha) to celebrate New Year. I haven't been there earlier; so I'm looking forward to it.

Mughda Godse: This New Year's eve I'll be working and spend the rest of it with my family.

Celina Jaitley: I will be performing at the JW Marriott in Mumbai which means that I am making money this New Year.

Sushmita Sen: I am going to Goa or the Kerala backwaters. I haven't decided yet. I can't go out of India because my younger daughter doesn't have a passport yet.

Manoj Bajpayee: I will be in Delhi with my family. I will welcome 2010 with them at home. I will chat, dance, play music and eat... I'll do everything that makes one happy.

Sukhwinder Singh: I'll be home with friends to welcome the New Year. I'll sing and dance and be merry in general. I don't like going out because on New Year, all places are over crowded. Fun is when you are with friends and nothing is better than home.

Purab Kohli: I plan to be in Mumbai this New Year as it has been eight years since I've been spending this time here...I'm looking forward to a great party in 2010.

Rannvijay: I am going to my hometown Jalandhar after a very long time. I'll be spending my Christmas and New Year there with my family and friends.