11 am: Woke up late today... last night's party made me crash at 3am, couldn't leave my bed before 11am and that too coz I had to go for a shoot in Bandra.

11:15 am: Had a very quick breakfast of just omelette and bread... was hungry like never had food before.. Some of the ladies were staring at me but I had my concentration on the meal I was having.

12 noon: Am ready after a long, hot shower to begin the day with interviews. I got ready in my blue jeans and yellow T shirt. I feel yellow is one colour that makes you fresh and energetic.

Celebration time: The party that made me crash

1 pm: I reach in time for my interview and was more than happy to see a big smile on the journo's face, his smile showed he was relieved

5 pm: My shoot got over.... trust me I was starving. I didn't have anything, coz the area were I was shooting had nothing great to eat, being a complete foodie I love that my meals are good to eat, and tasty. I some how managed to control the rats in my stomach, crossed Mithibai College and asked my driver to get the best vadapavs available there ---- a speciality of Mumbai and I am a big fan of it.

7 pm: Gott a call from Chandan that he is having a small get to-gether with some of our common friends in Juhu and all of them then decided to see Striker in PVR at around 8:45 pm

10.15 pm: My friends praised mine and Chandan's work ------ what else you need when your friends and family love and appreciate your work?

12 am: Am lying down on bed and now sleep is gripping me. Am switching off.

9.30 am: Woke up with the sunlight on my face! Had forgotten to draw the curtains last night! It was a golden shower right on my face. Saw my phone beeping next to me, it was on vibration mode! Reset it for the day and switched on the telly to check the news!

I see the sea: Enjoying a quiet moment

10.30 am: Breakfast in the coffee shop amidst a battalion of young kids who don't seem to be from here. How nice to be in your night suits and walk in to a high-profile coffee shop without a care in the world!

12 pm: Am ready to begin the day after a long, hot shower , Went house hunting with my friend to Juhu and Bandra. Saw a few really nice ones! I'm getting greedy! Such sprawling spaces in Mumbai are so difficult to find these days!

4 pm: Headed towards veteran Sujit Kumar's chautha ceremony. Such a grim moment! His daughter Henna worked worked on STRIKER with us.

6.30 pm: Headed back to my hotel. Just realised that I am a little hungry! Went to my room and ordered a sandwich. Got a series of telephonic interviews lined up again post-promotion for the film especially down south.

8 pm: Headed to the gym for a quick session of spinning and a run!

9 pm: Headed towards Mangi Ferra where I had thrown a party for my friends and colleagues.

1 am: Went back to the hotel with friends who wanted to continue the party in my room.

To celebrate Studio 18 release Striker becoming the first Hindi film to have its overseas premiere on YouTube, Bollywood fans took part in a global watchalong of the movie on Sunday.

siddharthe28099s-striker-scores-100000-youtube-viewers

From London to New York, from Prague to Abu Dhabi, fans watched online, whilst simultaneously sharing their thoughts using the Google Wave communications platform. Stacey Yount from Bollyspice, comments, ‘To be able to watch a movie the same weekend as the film releases was a real treat. To be able to do it with bloggers and writers from all over the world made it even better’.

The February 7th event saw Bollywood fans take their seats in this virtual online cinema in the US at 13.00 EST, 18.00 GMT and 19.00 in Europe. Chicago based Beth Watkins who maintains the blog Beth Loves Bollywood, is responsible for initiating the happening, ‘This seemed like a great way to let filmmakers know how much support there is for legal access to new films’.

Events such as the Striker watchalong signal how much of a transglobal commodity Hindi cinema is becoming. Video producer Evelyn Tu, suggests, ‘For viewers who are not from India, watching as a connected group allows us to clarify things that may be obvious to others’.

Digital releases on video sharing sites may now be seen as the way forward in ensuring low budget hatke films are made available to international audiences, without having to find overseas distribution or finance expensive marketing campaigns.

For most customers the screening was free, except in the United States where a $5 fee was charged. Although cheaper than going to a theatre in the US, this figure still generates greater revenue than the average cinema ticket in India, even at a high end multiplex.

The film may have only drawn average footfalls at the Indian box office, but internationally the story is different, with an unprecedented online response. From his Twitter account, lead actor Siddharth tweeted, ‘Striker is being called a goldmine by YouTube and Studio 18. No Indian film has ever been viewed by 100,000 people in one day’. The Telugu superstar seems equally delighted by the global interest, commenting, ‘Watchalong patrons, thank you. You have made history today’.

By Steven Baker

Time of India - Nikhat Kazmi

Direction: Chandan Arora
Duration: 2 hours
Critic's Rating:***

Story: Surya grows up as a skilled carrom player in the ghetto of Malvani, a Mumbai suburb which has remained free from communal tension, until December 1992. Chasing his dreams to lead a life free from crime, Surya watches his idyllic locality fall apart to the greed of local goons who are in league with corrupt cops. He fights back.


Movie Review: Okay, so this film does go back in time and picks up a story from Mumbai's dark night that followed the demolition of the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992. Under ordinary circumstances, it might have seemed dated. But today, with the city warding off another divisive and equally dark night that's dangerously looming on the horizon, this time due to the scourge of regionalism, Chandan Arora's Striker, acquires a whole new meaning. Don't divide our city, all you goons, goondas, politicos and administrators, it cries out aloud, through its moving tale of two young lads -- one Hindu, one Muslim -- who try to lead a life of normalcy, despite the shadow of crime and communalism. Childhood buddies, Surya (Siddharth) and Zaid (Ankur Vikal) not only end up toasting the undying bond of friendship, they also salute the spirit of communal harmony, characteristic of their city, through their carefree camaraderie.

But the real hero of the film is Malvani, the ghetto where the two grow up and dream of escape. The director captures the area with artistic detail and an edgy urgency that brings to life another compelling cameo of Mumbai, India's Maximum City. The crummy interiors of the claustrophobic dwellings where families may be low on money, but not on love and the violent alleys where death lurks round the corner in the guise of a naked sword, all coalesce as a perfect backdrop for the young and rebellious Surya to come of age. Although he discovers his skills at carrom at a young age, Surya first tries to find life beyond the grimy, crime-infested carrom clubs that dot Malvani. He wants to get away from the mach-mach (confusion) and make money in not-so-distant Dubai. But when an agent dupes him of his hard-earned money, he's forced to find sustenance in Jaleel's (Aditya Pancholi), the local goonda, carrom clubs where it isn't the striker alone that's at stake. Life's a risky business too, specially since Jaleel wants to take advantage of the communal tension rampant in the city to play his local politics.

Director Chandan Arora has already proved his desire to make different cinema with his earlier two ventures: Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon and Main, Meri Patni aur Woh. With Striker he continues to successfully strike out for new grounds. The high point of the film is its authenticity, its heartwarming tale and its performances. Siddharth's Surya is a fine follow-up act to his Rang De Basanti's new age revolutionary. Others to watch out for are Aditya Pancholi who reinvents himself as the local goon, Ankur Vikal, as Zaid, the spaced-out bird on a wire, Vidya Malvade as the understanding elder sister and Padmapriya, the tart with a heart.

Don't believe the lack lustre promos. The film has more meat -- and meaning -- than it promises.

Rajendra Prasad is playing a key role in Siddharth starrer Bava that is produced by ML Padma Kumar Chowdary and directed by Rambabu.

It is a pure love story that has a bit of naughtiness and romance. The scenes between Siddharth and Rajendra Prasad is going to be very touching says the filmmaker. The word Bava has a lot of sweetness in it and every frame would appear as a piece of painting. Music by Chakri and cinematography by Aravind Krishna.

Kannada heroine Pranitha and Kriti Kharbandha (of Boni fame) are strong contenders for Siddharth starrer Bava produced by Padma Kumar Chowdary ML, presented by Sandeep and directed by Rambabu.

Cinegoer