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"GURU"

Guru is the story of a young man in a small village of Idhar in Gujarat, who goes from rags to riches due to his sheer determination and personal drive, despite being faced with many business barriers.

Abhishek Bachchan plays the title of Guru Kant Desai in the film – the man who is a villager, becomes a visionary and finally a winner. The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai plays Sujatha – the wife of Guru in the film.

The veteran Mithun Chakraborty plays Manikdas Guptha (Nanaji) – the owner of a newspaper The Independent. Madhavan plays the role of Shyam Saxena – a young and dreaming, a 22-year-old news reporter, who is against Guru and his ideologies. Vidya Balan plays the role of Meenu – a handicapped girl who is the wife of Shyam Saxena but admires Guru.

Bollywood sex-kitten Mallika Sherawat plays a dancer in the film and also has a hot item number to her credit.

˜Guru' is the story of a young man in a small village of Idhar in Gujarat, who dreams big right from the start and has to face several hurdles and fight an obstinate system all alone to see his dreams come true. The mantra that the young man follows diligently is that those who do not dream do not achieve anything in life. He does reach the top, ultimately.

Guru started his journey from a modest village in Gujarat to Bombay which was soon flourishing as the financial capital of India. It was year 1958, and those were the days when the rich ruled the world of business and newcomers hardly had any place in the sun for them. But Guru knew it was achievable, and he surely had ways to find a way for himself, whether by hook or by crook.

And the one who was with Guru in his journey throughout was Sujatha, who at one point of time was hesitant to marry Guru but it was a matter of time when she fell in love with him after being together as a couple in a one-room chawl. Her relationship with him became so strong over the years that regardless of what others had to say about him, for her Guru was the one who stood for love.

Nananji ran a newspaper called The Independent and years back was pretty impressed with the kind of fire that he could feel within Guru. He knew that Guru was a young lad who had it in him to be successful and though his walk towards his destination seemed too fast, he attributed it to his young blood. He was warned about some of Guru's so-called evil ways but for Nananji, Guru was spotless. Until he realized the truth...a bitter one at that. And now he wanted to fight to bring it to fore for all to see. Even if it threatens to destroy Guru....or even himself.

The same realization had struck Shyam too who didn't really have much love lost for Guru due to the way he worked and wanted him to be punished for his unethical and materialistic ways. He was ready for a fight and was all set to enter the arena for he believes that good should be done to people. He likes it when somebody does something good for the people and society. But he believes that it should be done within the bounds of the law. He believes that there is a reason why there is law and there is a reason why people make laws. He opposes anyone who breaks the law -- without caring who that person is. So, he stands to oppose Gurukant Desai when he breaks laws. This reporter knows the power of words and the media.

Apart from Sujatha, Guru also had support in the form of Meenu, a young woman who limped and could be seen on a wheelchair. From her childhood, she had seen Guru and while she could see Nanaji and Shyam being critical of him, for her he was the man to be respected and admired since he was the only one who never asked her about her handicap. Also, she could see that Guru's journey to the top was full of obstacles and hence a lot of things happened en route which in an ideal scenario should not have happened.

Set in the picturesque beauty of the 1958, Bombay, Guru comes to the city as a young man with only two shirts, a wife, a brother-in-law and Rs.15,000 to start a business.

But all doors were shut for a newcomer. Indian business and trade were run by a handful of the rich and the privileged. Only they were given the licenses. They had the quotas and they controlled all government trade. It was an exclusive club where it was impossible for an ordinary middle class newcomer to enter, let alone succeed.

Guru had to kick the doors open or cajole them to open. He did both and would not take no for an answer. And that's because he never knew the word 'no'. Despite all barriers, he started his own company called Shakti Trading in a 350 sq feet room, with one telephone, one table and three chairs.

Forty years on, Shakti Corporation became the first Indian company to enter the Forbes top 500 list. People asked him how this happened and he said think big, think ahead and think fast.

Produced and directed by Mani Ratnam, Guru is scheduled to release on January 12, 2007.
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AR Rahman Music in Guru

Rahman proves his class in 'Guru'
Zafri Mudasser Nofil

"Guru" is one of the rare occasions when Mani Ratnam, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar have come together. Loosely based on the life of Reliance founder Dhirubhai Ambani, the film has Abhisekh Bachchan playing the role of the late business icon.

"The album begins with "Barso re", a lively rain song crooned by Shreya Ghosal and Uday Majumdar and arranged beautifully by Rahman.

"Tere bina" is no doubt the highpoint of the album and has a typical Rahman flavour. Sung by Rahman and Chinmayee with additional vocals by Murtaza Qadir, "Tere bina" is a great love song that rides on equally great lyrics. Rahman has rightly dedicated this song to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

"Ek lo ek muft" is a rustic number where Rahman fails to capitalise on the voice of Bappi Lahiri and Chitra. A completely situational song, it has additional vocals by Tanvi, Saloni, Boney and Jaidev

"Baazi laga" by Udit Narayan, Madhushree, Swetha and Bhargavee is a mundane number, most unlike Rahman.

"Mayya" is the result of what Rahman is best at - fusion. Sung by Mayyam Toller with additional vocals by Chinmayee and Keerthi, it has Arabic elements blended with Indian folk.

"Ay hairathe" is an intoxicating ghazal by Hariharan and Alka Yagnik with Rahman and Aslam Mohammed also lending their voices.

"Jaage hain" is for the classical music buffs. Chitra and Rahman sing this number with Madras Chorale Group providing the orchestral delights.

In "Guru" Rahman, who penned hits like "Roja", "Bombay", "Rang De Basanti" and "Lagaan", proves his class once again.

Undoubtedly one of the finest contemporary musicians, Rahman's effort in "Guru" is boosted by Gulzar's lyrics.

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Abhishek Bachchan look's in film Guru
November 30th, 2006

His dad's played an aging actor even when he was very young, and son Abhishek Bachchan is following in his footsteps. Junior is now applying white to his hair and adding many wrinkles to his face for Mani Ratnam's benefit. The actor informs that make-up artistes from India and abroad helped him in the aging process for the film Guru. In fact, a lot of make-up tests were done, even on Sundays, and Mani Ratnam didn't hesitate from tweaking Abhishek's look during shoots as well. However, because of the director's obsession for making things real, he felt using too much make up would disconnect the audience from the character. Now to see whether the final look is convincing, we just have to wait and watch. Hope, Abhishek Bachchan took some tips from his dad.

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The cast and crew of Mani Ratnam's Guru got together to unveil the music album of the movie at Grand Hyatt Sunday night. The chemistry between the lead pair showed as they interacted with Amitabh Bachchan on the stage and spoke about the movie. Gulzar and A R Rahman performed on the stage and recited some lines of the song for the invitees and then the whole cast got together for a photo-op.

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Salaam-e-Ishq

Tehzeeb (Vidya Balan) wakes up in the morning to find a small diamond pendant by her bedside. An anniversary gift from her very romantic husband Ashutosh (John Abraham). They had eloped and got married two years ago.

Struggling like all young married couples in Bombay they work in media – at a news channel. She is a field reporter and he is a film editor. Completely crazy about each other they find it quite difficult to keep their hands off each other.

But things are going to change... Because Tehzeeb is going to be involved in a tragic accident that will change everything... That will put Ashu's love and devotion to the ultimate test.

Raju taxiwala (Govinda) wakes up in the morning and gets into his colourful Delhi taxi. He drives from his home in Chandni Chowk to the New Delhi International Airport. Like he has for the last 15 years. He joins the long queue at the airport. Like has for the last 15 years.

Unlike the other taxi drivers he does not complain about the ever-increasing queue. He hasn't... even once for the last 15 years. Because he enjoys watching the doors of the New Delhi International Airport. Opening and closing.

He enjoys watching the passengers coming out. Hoping that among them will be HER... His blonde dream girl (Stephanie) ... The girl that he has waited for the last 15 years...

But things are going to change... Because his dream girl does come. From those very doors... The only problem is that Stephanie has come looking for Rohit Chaddha – her boyfriend...

Vinay Malhotra (Anil Kapoor) wakes up in his picture perfect suburban London home every morning. He is cared for by his picture perfect wife Seema (Juhi Chawla), and he is kissed goodbye by his picture perfect daughters. He goes to his picture perfect London PR job and returns to his picture perfect wife, daughters and home.

But things are going to change... Because Vinay Malhotra meets the not so perfect Anjali (Anjana). Unconventional, over-confident and extremely determined, Anjali comes from a world that Vinay only dreams off. A world where the very modern single girl living in London gets what she wants... And Anjali wants Vinay Malhotra...

Kkamini (spelt with 2 K's) (Priyanka Chopra) wakes up to another scandal in the morning newspapers. The most sought after item girl in Bollywood cannot help, but get involved with all sorts of problems with the media.

Problems that she attributes as the cause for not landing the coveted heroine roles. The roles that she came to the big bad world of Bollywood for...

But things are going to change.... Because she has devised a plot to change her image in the media, the public eye and most importantly the big producers of Bollywood. A plot that will propel her from item girl to number one heroine... The only thing that she has not anticipated is RAHUL (Salman Khan)...

Shiven (Akshaye Khanna) wakes up to a nightmare. The most consummate bachelor in New Delhi is engaged to get married in the next 10 days. The most consummate bachelor in New Delhi has suddenly realized what is in store for him.

The most consummate Bachelor in New Delhi wants to break off the engagement. And he does hurting his fiancÃÂĐ Gia (Ayesha Takia) in the bargain, but retrieving his coveted freedom...

But things are going to change... Because with each passing day, with every agonizing hour he begins to realize that without Gia he is suddenly and completely incomplete...

Rustom Dastoor (Sohail Khan) are a simple lower middle class Parsi couple. He wants to spend the rest of his life with his newly married wife Dolly Dastoor (Perizaad Zorabian). He wants to spend every hour fulfilling the lust that has been building up within him all these years...

But things are going to change... Because no matter how and where Rustom Dastoor tries to fulfill that burning desire something goes wrong and Rustom Dastoor and Dolly Dastoor are thrown into a series of events that become tragically and comically almost fatal...

Salaam-e-ishq is the story of 6 groups of people. From different parts of the world. From different walks of life. Ignorant about each other's existence, but who end up being brought together by destiny, fate and LOVE...

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Salaam- e- Ishq is slated to hit the theatres on 26th January

Salaam- e- Ishq, the biggest multi-starrer on the anvil, is slated to be released on the 26th January. If the rave review of the songs and promo's of the movie are anything to go by, the movie is all set to carve a niche for itself as one of the biggest blockbuster of the year 2007.

The name of the movie -- Salaam-e-Ishq -- itself suggests that it is the celebration of Bollywoods favorite theme 'Love', and that too, not just 1 love story but 6 love stories running parallely.

Commenting on the movie, Nikhil Advani, Director, Salaam-e-Ishq said:" With Kal Ho Na Ho, everything was pretty much delivered to me and I would have been an idiot, not to have delivered. However, Saalam-e-Ishq is my first big film."

It is a big film with a huge star cast of the who's who of the Bollywood -- right from Vidya Balan fresh from her Munnabhai success to John Abraham, Salman Khan , Priyanka Chopra, among others. Interestingly, even yesteryear greats like -- Govinda and Juhi Chawla -- are also part of the film, for whom, this movie is their big banner main stream come back.

Elaborating on the movie, Salman Khan, Actor said:" Actually, the film could have been six films as there are six love stories running parrallely but it is just one film."

The film with its six parallel love stories sounds similar to Hollywood hit -- Love Actually -- however, the makers have pretty candidly claimed that structurally the film is similar to the Hollywood hit, but that's where the similarity ends. Moviegoers, however, will have to wait and watch till they catch it on the theatres on the 26th, January.
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Salaam-E-Ishq taste the flavor with story and pics (part 1)

Khamini and Rahul
Khamini (Priyanka Chopra) the most sought after item girl in Bollywood can't escape unnecessary scandals. She thinks it is all because she is not a leading heroine. She dreams of being the number one. But things are going to change because Khamini has devised a plot to change her image in the media, the public eye and most importantly the big producers of Bollywood. A plot that will propel her from being an item girl to being the number one heroine in India. The only thing that she did not anticipate was the arrival of Rahul (Salmaan Khan) into her life...

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Vinay and Seema

Vinay Malhotra (Anil Kapoor) is very much a part of his picture perfect suburban London home every morning. He is cared for by his picture perfect wife, Seema (Juhi Chawla) and is kissed goodbye by his picture perfect daughters. He goes to his picture perfect London PR job and returns to his picture perfect wife, daughters and home.
But things are going to change after Vinay meets the not so perfect Anjali (Anjana Sukhani). Unconventional, over-confident and extremely determined, Anjali comes from a world that Vinay could only dream of. A world where the very modern single girl living in London gets what she wants, and now Anjali wants Vinay Malhotra. Vinay has a sexual encounter with Anjali and Seema finds out about it. Hell breaks loose in their unconventional lives.

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Raju and Stephanie

Raju Taxiwala (Govinda) wakes up in the morning and gets into his colorful Delhi taxi. He drives from his home in Chandni Chowk to the New Delhi International Airport like he has for the last 15 years. He joins the long queue at the airport like he has for the last 15 years. Unlike other taxi drivers, he does not complain about the ever-increasing queue. He hasn't complained about the increasing queue even once in the past 15 years. Why? Because he enjoys watching the doors of the New Delhi International Airport opening and closing. He enjoys watching the passengers coming out. Hoping that among them will be HER. His blonde dream girl, Stephanie (Shannon Esrechowitz). The girl that he has waited for the last 15 years. But things are going to change for Raju because his dream girl does come from those very doors. The only problem is that Stephanie has come looking not for Raju, but for Rohit Chaddha (Kushaal Punjabi)– her boyfriend.

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Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy strike it rich in 'Salaam-e-Ishq'
Zafri Mudasser Nofil

After the impressive score in "Don", the troika of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa come up with another imposing offering in "Salaam-e-Ishq", a film that deals with "six different couples, 12 different lives and one common problem - love".

"Salaam-e-Ishq" by Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal, Kunal Ganjawala, Sadhna Sargam and Shankar Mahadevan sets the tone for the album.

Marked by a unique blend of bagpiper music and Punjabi folk, this peppy number truly brings out the exuberance of the composers.

The there is the impressive love song "Mera Dil", sung by Shaan and Zee TV "Sa Re Ga Ma" finalist Nihira. Their voices gel nicely in this high-pitch number.

Shilpa Rao, Shankar Mahadevan and Loy Mendonsa lend their voice to "Saiyaan Re", a fun-filled number with a qawwali touch.

"Dil Kya Kare" is a soulful ballad by Adnan Sami who does no injustice to the number.

One gets to listen to a different Kailash Kher in the emotional "Ya Rabba" with the singer crooning it at a very low pitch.

After recreating a number of oldies in "Don", Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy try again in "Salaam-e-Ishq" with O.P. Nayyar's hit number in "Aar Paar", "Babuji dheere chalna".

Though Nihira lacks the depth of Geeta Dutt's voice and fails to relive the song's seductive essence, the song is quite likeable.

The album ends with a marriage song "Tenu Leke" crooned by Sonu Nigam and Mahalaxmi Iyer.

Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy were undoubtedly the leading composers of 2006 ("Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" being the other score) and "Salaam-e-Ishq" proves that they are one of the best in business in Bollywood right now.


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Salaam-e-Ishq'
Six stories running parallel are bound together by one common theme: love. Nikhil Advani's movie ˜Salaam-e-Ishq' is, as its title suggests, a tribute to love.

The movie features a host of Bollywood stars: Salman Khan , Priyanka Chopra , John Abraham , Vidya Balan , Anil Kapoor , Juhi Chawla , Akshaye Khanna , Ayesha Takia , Govinda and Shannon Esrechowitz .

Priyanka Chopra plays Kkamini. Despite the addition of an extra ˜k' into her name, lady luck has not smiled on this item girl in Bollywood. Although Kkamini is being sought after for items, she has not made it into the league of top actresses. Added to this, she wakes up in the morning to another controversy in the newspapers.

Kkamini decides to change her fate. She makes a plan to change her image in movies, in media and in the eyes of the big producers of Bollywood. If executed rightly the plan will put her into the big league.

But there is one thing she fails to anticipate. That is Rahul (Salman Khan).

Tehzeeb (Vidya Balan) and Ashutosh (John Abraham) make an ideal husband-wife. She wakes in the morning to the glint of a diamond pendant, a gift from her loving husband on their marriage anniversary. Two years ago they had eloped to Mumbai and got married. Today they are completely obsessed about each other.

Tehzeeb and Ashutosh work with a news channel. She is a field reporter and he is a film editor. They have had their share of struggles to make ends meet.

Ashutosh's world shatters after Tehzeeb is involved in an accident. The course of his life is changed and his love for Tehzeeb is put to test.

In a sprawling house in London, Vinay Malhotra (Anil Kapoor) lives with his caring wife Seema (Juhi Chawla) and lovely daughters. He has everything a man can ask for: a picture perfect family, a secure job (as a PR executive) and financial security.

But things change when in Vinay's picture perfect world comes a woman named Anjali (Anjana Sukhani). Anjali is confident and ambitious girl who knows how to get what she wants. And she wants Vinay.

Shiven (Akshaye Khanna) is the most eligible bachelor in Delhi. He is engaged to Gia (Ayesha Takia) and the two are set to marry in the next 10 days.

But the thought of marrying scares Shiven. So he breaks off his engagement with Gia.

Doing thus, Shiven regains his freedom, but Gia is emotionally hurt. However, with each passing day, Shiven realizes how lonely and incomplete he is without Gia.

Govinda plays a taxi-driver Raju Taxiwala. Every morning he drives from his Chandni Chowk home to the airport, stands in the long queue and watches the door of the airport with the hope that his dream girl Stephanie (Shannon Esrechowitz) will return some day.

Then that fateful day comes and Stephanie walks out of the door. But she has come back not for Raju but to look for her boyfriend Rohit Chaddha.

Alongside these five stories there also runs the tale of a Parsi middle-class man Rustom Dastoor (Sohail Khan) who wants to spend as much time as possible making love to his wife Dolly. But his attempts to do so throw the couple into situations that are sometimes comic and sometimes tragic.

The story of ˜Salaam-E-Ishq' has been written by Nikhil Advani himself. The costume designing is done by Vikram Phadnis and Alvira Agnihotri (Salman's sister).

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Saiyan Re

Saiyaan Re - Shilpa, Shankar Mahadevan & Loy Mendonsa
'Saiyaan Re' begins like a 1960s qawalli but soon SEL's western beats make this one much more than a routine qawalli. Shankar Mahadevan sings effortlessly with new comer Shilpa. They are ably supported by Loy (of SEL trio). This one has good music and would be a treat to watch on the big screen.

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Salaam-e-ishq

Salaam-E-Ishq - Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Sadhna Sargam & Shankar Mahadevan
Not sure why this title song comes so late in the album. Undoubtedly the best song of the lot, this one is going to rule the music charts in the coming months. Bagpiper sound is the major attraction in this love song, probably picturized on the entire cast of Salman Khan - Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham - Vidya Balan, Govinda - Shannon Esrechowitz, Anil Kapoor - Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna - Ayesha Takia and Sohail Khan - Isha Koppikar.

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Ye Rabba

Ya Rabba - Kailash Kher
The only sad song of the album, this one would probably be played in the background. Kailash Kher, expectedly, sings well.

Salaam-e-Ishq has seven songs but the ones which stand out are the title song Salaam-e-Ishq, Adnan Sami's 'Dil Kya Kare' and 'Saiyaan Re'. Overall, a sweet romantic album - true to the theme of the movie. Salaam-e-Ishq!!!

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Priyanka Chopra plays Kkamini. Despite the addition of an extra ˜k' into her name, lady luck has not smiled on this item girl in Bollywood. Although Kkamini is being sought after for items, she has not made it into the league of top actresses. Added to this, she wakes up in the morning to another controversy in the newspapers.
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