January | 2009 |

“SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” GETS TEN OSCAR NOMINATIONS

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Posted on January 27, 2009 by theravireport

Talk about a film with the Midas touch. Is there anything else really left to say about “Slumdog Millionaire“? Ten Oscar nominations and other recent honors include Best Ensemble Cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Daryl F. Zanuck Award for Producer at the Producers Guild of America Awards. This is unbelievable! The film has broken all records at the box office and continues to win award after award in Hollywood and overseas.

Co-director Loveleen Tandan and acclaimed movie director Mira Nair share a joke at the NY premiere.

Just to show you how popular the movie has become, I recently took some friends to a Manhattan movie house last week and the film sold out! I thought, what a minute! The movie has been out since last November and it is still selling out? Remarkable.

“The ten Oscar nominations really increased ticket sales” said the gorgeous blonde behind the ticket booth who also told me she has seen it once and was planning on seeing it again with her friends.

The magic behind the movie besides having magnificent director Danny Boyle and a great team is that the film seems to be attracting all kinds of audiences who have been longing for a feel good film and “Slumdog Millionaire” is certainly filling the void.

The nominations for global musical genius A. R. Rahman, who has been nominated for two of the three songs in the Best Song category, has been a tremendous honor for his work and for India. The singer, composer, producer , instrumentalist and song writer has for the past two decades, created some of the most incredible songs and background music for Indian films. His work is known across the globe and now Hollywood as taken notice. The soundtrack of “Slumdog Millionaire” has caught the attention of the nation with it’s foot tapping melodies and soulful tunes.

NY after party of “Slumdog Millionaire” premiere with Co-director Loveleen Tandan and director Danny Boyle in the background mingling with guests.

My media contacts in India who attended the Mumbai premiere of the film said that the Oscar nominations were announced the night of the premiere so there was a double celebration that night. Guests and celebrities danced the night away to an Indian band playing on the red carpet when they heard of the nomination news. Co-director Loveleen Tandan dressed in a beautiful & classic pink silk sari danced the night away with Bollywood top star Anil Kapoor and the beautiful Frieda Pinto and charismatic Dev Patel, all of whom have become households names .

As The Academy Awards are watched around the world on Sunday, February 22, 2009 on ABC by millions, all eyes will be focused on a small film with unknown leads that has magnified into one of the most powerful films of the year catching the attention of the world in the process.

Music Composer/Producer/Singer A.R. Rahman seen here with Andrew Lloyd Weber, has been nominated twice in the Best Song category for the Oscars.

Ravi

The Oscar nominations for “Slumdog Millionaire” are as follows:

1. Best Picture

2.Best Director

3. Best Adapted Screenplay(writing)

4. Best Cinematography

5. Best Song (2 nominations)

1.”Jai Ho”

2. “O Saya”

6. Achievement in Editing

7. Best Sound Mixing

8.Original Score

“SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” SKYROCKETS TO FAME

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Posted on January 20, 2009 by theravireport

Ok…so now that the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” has pretty much become an household name, I think its time for me to share with you some additional great news about the film, the cast and producers just in case you haven’t heard. (which maybe only a few of you since the movie has skyrocketed to fame in the last few weeks and everyone is talking about it! I mean everyone!)

Superstars Dev Patel and Frida Pinto pose for The Ravi Report

Superstars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto pose for The Ravi Report

Since the NY premiere of the film last November when The Ravi Report was front and center at the opening, director Danny Boyle and his cast have been flooded with awards, special recognition and enough nominations and wins to fill Giant Stadium!

“Slumdog Millionaire”has so far to date, won four Golden Globes including one for Best Drama, won five Critics Choice Awards and received 11 BAFTA nominations and is rumored to be a strong contender for best picture at the Oscars this year. Everyone associated with the film has gotten worldwide recognition. Actor Dev Patel and Freida Pinto have been on Letterman, CNN, NBC Today, Golden Globes you name it, they have been there! Pinto has been written up in almost every leading fashion magazine regarding her sexy and classic style of clothing, jewellery and shoes. Zac Posen is one of her favorite designers she has told the press. Both Patel and Pinto have become instant superstars in their native home land of London and India.

Award winning director Danny Boyle being interviewed on the red carpet

Director Danny Boyle is basically on cloud nine and should be. His film has done remarkable well at the box office(13 mil budget and cleared over 40 mil so far) and is still climbing the box office charts in terms of popularity and $$$.

So, the question now being asked by many is how does a small Indian film with unknown lead actors get so much attention and win so many awards? Simple. It’s not rocket science. The film has an excellent story with brilliant casting (thank you Loveleen Tandon. You are a God sent) great music from genius A.R. Rahman and incredible performances by three of the biggest names in the Indian film industry Anil Kapoor, Mahesh Manjrekar and Irrfan Khan. Mixed all that together with the Midas touch of director Boyle and you my friends have a great film!

The popularity of the film has increased so much that additional theaters across America and the UK have opened up and shows continue to sell out at certain movie houses which brings me to the age old question that everyone has been asking- will “Slumdog Millionaire” bring home the Oscar?

The incredible team of co-director and casting agent Loveleen Tandon, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy

Well, it’s looking very good these days with the amount of accolades the movie has won and the world wide press it has received. The feel good film has indeed opened up the hearts of the critics and the public but it has also done something else pretty incredible- it showed the true spirit of Mumbai and the incredible energy the city breeds and all I want to say is if a kid from the slums can become a millionaire overnight then anything is possible!

Academy Awards nominations are on January 22, 2009 and the Oscars will be broadcast live on February 22, 2009 on ABC.

Ravi

www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire

SPECIAL NY EVENT COVERAGE: Nigel Barker Captures The Heart of Haiti Through His Lens

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Posted on January 20, 2009 by theravireport

For those that don’t know Nigel Barker well, there is really only one thing that you need to know about him-the man cares. Period. Plain and simple. Be it to help select America’s Next Top Model where Barker serves as a judge for several seasons or as a humanitarian, trying to save the seals from being butchered or bringing awareness to the severe living conditions of the people of Haiti, the multi- talented photographer, celebrity judge and world famous lensman just cares about people and humanity no matter what.

Nigel Barker and beautiful wife Cristen Chen at Edeyo charity event at Milk Studios.

Nigel Barker and beautiful wife Christen Chen at Edeyo charity event at Milk Studios.

That’s why it was no surprise to see over 800 people on January 8 attend the glamorous charity event unveiling Nigel’s newest exhibit “Hait:Hunger & Hope“at the prestigious and world famous Milk Studios in NY. (www.milkstudios.com). Nigel along with his stunning wife Christen celebrated with friends, guests & celebrities who came to support and view Nigel’s thought provoking photos from his recent trip to Haiti, a place where poverty is as common as a yellow cab in Manhattan. The charity event raised thousands of dollars as the beautiful people of NY came in droves and braved the bitter cold to help the celebrity photographer celebrate his new exhibit which ran until January 13.

The exhibit took guests inside the world of many Haitians desparate for change

The exhibit took guests inside the world of many Haitians hopeful for change.

The event was to benefit “Edeyo” (www.edeyo.org) an NY based organization that helps raise money for improvised children in Haiti. The benefit was attended by many well known people from the fashion, arts, music and business industries that came to support the well loved photographer. Nigel and his group travelled to Haiti last year during the food riots and documented what he saw with exclusive photographs and a film. The pictures were on display throughout the studio in larger than life sized prints, featuring some of the most beautiful children and people from Haiti I have ever seen. Barker captured the essence of how the Haitians live and how much they are in need of help from others. The daily struggles, the hardships and the glimmer of hope in the eyes of the children, were all captured by Nigel in his journey to Haiti.

Edeyo’s founder Unik Ernest and friends pose for The Ravi Report

I have known Nigel for years and when he wants to do something, he gets it done. He is very supportive of many organizations and continues to bring awareness to serious issues through his ability as a top lensman by capturing the essence of the subject matter from anywhere in the world he travels to. He tells a story through his camera, a special talent that only a few have and can utilize effectively.

From the Nigel Barker “Haiti: Hunger & Hope” collection.

For more information, do check out www.edeyo.org for a complete look at Nigel’s amazing work and how you can help the people of Haiti have a better life.

Ravi

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