"The Unforgettables" including the Bachchans, Akshay, and ?? 2008 World Tour

[Anamika]

Yesterday I posted a comment at that Unforgettable Tour blog, asking why they chose those Dutch and German promoters (who are 'defaulting' now) in the first place.
The comment was not published - obviously they only allow positive comments on their site.

But I still wonder about the local promoters. In Big B's blog today he wrote, "But we can profess to either run a truly professional unit or be consumed by non performing partners, being disloyal to the written and signed word." - by 'non performing' and 'disloyal' partners he meant the promoters. Still, the PR agency in Germany just annonced that the same promoter will bring the show to Germany by the end of this year. But if he was defaulting and disloyal now, why does he get a second chance?

Of course, we'll never find out what went on behind the scenes, but "truly professional" it surely isn't.

[aby2000]

Anamika: Why don't you put this query to AB on his blog?

[Anamika]

Anamika: Why don't you put this query to AB on his blog?

I already wrote a comment on Big B's blog about the promoters, before that announcement came out (the one about the show being postponed, not cancelled altogether).
But thanks, you just gave me an idea for the next comment tomorrow... 

[Spencer]

LOL

CNN - The Screening Room Blog

Monday, August 25, 2008
Bollywood extravaganza is Unforgettable

LONDON, England -- My right ear is still ringing almost 24 hours after it happened.

A host of Bollywood's biggest stars put on a glittering performance at London's 02 Arena in front of 20,000 frenzied fans as part of "The Unforgettable Tour," described on its website as "an extravaganza of Indian cinema's magic."

The performance in London was the final date on the first leg of the tour across nine cities in the U.S. and UK.

Among the most frenzied of all the fans was the 16-year-old girl who occupied the seat to my right. In fact she rarely occupied it at all, preferring to jump up and down while delivering ear-tormenting screams.

The object of her attentions was 65-year-old legend of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan. For the few uninitiated members of the crowd, a short but stirring video trailer preceeded his appearance on stage.

If Amitabh is a modest man, he must have been slightly uncomfortable as he listened to the trailer, which declared him to be India's "Unforgettable Legend." But the audience roared its concurrence and my teenage neighbour screamed her adulation at a man old enough to be her great-grandfather.

I tried to imagine a similar reaction to Clint Eastwood's arrival on stage -- but such comparisons immediately vanished as the veteran Indian actor burst into song and proceeded to gyrate energetically among a posse of dazzlingly-dressed dancers.

Amitabh may be the main draw but the supporting cast wasn't far behind him, judging by the decibel level achieved by my caterwauling companion, who changed to a series of guttural "phwoaaars!" when Abitabh's son, Abishek, marched through the crowd to the stage flanked by burly security guys.

Abishek is a superstar in his own right and last year extended Bollywood's strongest dynasty by marrying the golden girl of Indian cinema, Aishwarya Rai.

Abishek's a lucky lad indeed, according to the trailer for the new Mrs Bachchan, which declared her to be "the world's most beautiful woman" as well as "the fifth most Googled name on the internet."

The celestial body of the former Miss World was lowered from the heavens as she started dancing and lip-synching to a medley of music from her Bollywood blockbusters. But there's no outcry over singing simulation here: lip-synching is a long-established and accepted part of Indian film.

Other stars to appear including Preity Zinta, Shilpa Shetty and top Bollywood music directors Vishal and Shekhar. The music was uplifting and percussive, the choreography by Shiamak Davar stunning.

My wife and two young children loved it as much as I did, but the youngest lacked the stamina to endure all of the four-hour epic. As we stood up to leave, a girl two seats to my right leaned across and yelled: "I'm sorry about my friend, she's a bit of a wild one I'm afraid!"

I was about to say that it was fine and that her behavior wasn't the cause of our departure when her pal gave vent to an enormous expression of "Oh my Gaaawwwwd!" as another of Bollywood's brightest took to the stage.

The rest of my words disappeared in a screech taken up and repeated by thousands of girls across the Arena as the dhol drums rattled out more bhangra beats.

Post by: The Screening Room's Neil Curry

http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/screening.room/blog/

[Vijay_UK]

I'll do this in the same fashion as Genelia did as it seems a good template. Special thanks to her for her review as it helped me remember the order in which they came which I surely would have forgotten.
Also I'm not a very good writer and I run out of adjectives easily so don't be surprised to see words repeated throughout. I've been sketchy at some points and gone into some detail on others depending on how much I loved it as you will see.

The Unforgettable Tour. The O2 Arena, London. Sunday 24th August.

The O2 Arena is a stunning 20000 strong arena in the heart of London, and has had many notable stars performing there from Justin Timberlake to Led Zeppelin. It was the ultimate place to hold an event like this as you can't really go much bigger in this city.



So I arrived there in good time with a friend using the bus as the trains were off that day(Of all the days it had to be that day). Had never been to the O2. Looks quite big but not as big as it turns out to be inside. It's bloody big!
I knew my seats were on the upper tier so that'd limit my enjoyment a bit but when I sat down it didn't seem as bad as I expected... how wrong I was... but I will explain that in the end.

Unexpectedly it was Raghav who kicked the night off singing some of his songs. I don't really listen to him so I wasn't really amazed but it but it got the crowd in the mood.

After he went thats when it all really started...

Solo Performances

Ritesh: As it has been mentioned many times, Ritesh seems out of place compared to other superstars but I was surprised at how good he really was. It was also when all the big green note thingies at the back turned on in the stage screen thing that impressed me. He made me smile. He did 'Cash', 'Hey Babyy' and he also did 'De Taali'. A good start to the show. He then introduced...

Preity: She carried on the smiling. Did 'Pretty Woman','Kiss of Love' and 'Where's the party tonight?'. Not bad, not amazingly amazing either. I liked it, not loved it. Maybe if I was close I'd have appreciated it more. Next was according to her a 'great human being'...

Abhishek: Seeing as I'd read about earlier tours I knew Abhi wasn't about to come in through the stage so was waiting for the entrance he would use. Seeing everyone scream to one side directed me to where he was and he made it through the screaming girls to the stage. He started off with 'Right here Right now' though he wasn't rapping I think. He also did 'Dhadak Dhadak' and 'Ticket to Hollywood' before addressing the crowd and really getting them excited. He then did 'Dus Bahane' which blew everyone over...
I have to say I loved Abhishek! He had so much enthusiasm, so much energy and he seemed to be enjoying every second!
I loved how he was trying to get the crowd going after a much quiter repception for Ritesh and Preity. He did a cheeky little thing where he said 'Ok how many of you have cameras?' (though the tickets said No Cameras allowed)... 'Ok i'm going to give you all a chance to take a picture of me.. ready, set, go' and they put the spotlight on him. It was really a cheeky big headed thing to do but I loved it.



Another highlight was when he was introducing Aishwarya next he stopped in the middle and he goes 'Hey this dude is getting excited over my wife!' to which he added 'That's the spirit dude!'  Gotta love the guy's charisma. So next came his lovely wife...

Aishwarya: She did just 2 songs.. Crazy Kiya Re and Dhoom again and like Preity I wasn't bowled over by her... she was ok.. maybe it was me being too far again... and as Genelia has mentioned that outfit was hideous... her wonderful mother in law Jaya came on next and did a speech on saving the planet. Though it was great seeing Jaya she really didn't seem to be in a happy mood with doing the speech...



Next came the musical duo of..

Vishal and Shekar: They really surprised me! I think it was the fact they were singing rather than lip-syncing that really got me excited! The crowd seemed to love there freshness and they were doing a lot of prancing and jumping and getting the crowd going from all sides. They did songs from Om Shanti Om. Even Preity popped out for Deewanagi, I'm assuming it was spontaneous. A pleasant surprise!

And then came the moment everyone was waiting for... the Intro video was much longer with the beautiful 'O Fortuna' playing to it, than the other superstars showing from the younger days to the older days, painting different compliments on him and then opened the stage again with a build up that seemed to go on forever and I could hear my heart beating and adrenaline pumping and then emerged as awesome as ever...

AMITABH BACHCHAN: Undoubtedly the loudest reception from the crowd! He was the main attraction, he was what everyone had come to see and he was here in the flesh! How awesome he looked! Just as fresh as he always was! He wasn't lip syncing.. he was singing! His first song was a catchy number I still need to google, he then surprisingly did 'Dekha Na' from Bombay to Goa, was quite pleasently surprised. After than came an awesome 'Main Hoon Don', he seemed to really enjoy it and finally he did Rang Barse which went on for quite a while but had so much groove and charisma to it I didn't tire of it. He then did a weird funky Caribbean thing... which was totally random but it ended his solo bit.



Tribute to Amitabh's career

Next came the 'Tribute to Amitabh's career'.. where they did famous songs from Amitabh's career..

Started off with 'Khaike Paan' which Abhishek did... Didn't go on for long and was quite good... Next came on Aish with the introduction of Abhi again to do 'Pardesiya' from 'Mr Natwarlal'. Got a great reception from the crowd as this was the first time they were together... Aishwarya had ditched the awful costume and now was looking absolutely stunning! A cute performance from a great song!
Ritesh came on next to do 'Jumma Chummah' from 'Hum'. As soon as people realised it was THAT song crowd got louder... clearly popular! The act finished with a rendition of 'Sara Zamaana' from 'Yaarana' from all of them except Amitabh who appeared at the end.. the rest were wearing funny light up costumes which stood lit up after the lights went down after the act finished.



There was one more person left still... Billed as 'UK's favourite girl' Shilpa Shetty arrived next to a great reception and boy could she dance! She has so much enthusiasm and talent for dancing and it could be seen on stage... Unlike the other stars she did popular, newer songs rather than songs from her films. She started off with 'Its Rocking' followed by 'Race Saanson Ki' plus 'Beedi Jalayle'. 'Mauja hi Mauja' was in there somewhere too which seemed popular for the crowd.. Shiamak Davar made a surprise appearence and a did a real pervy dance with her.. I wasn't too impressed but clearly other people were.. Shilpa finished off and addressed the crowd by saying 'I've said it many times but I'll say it again'. I expected a 'I love you UK' but got a 'I LOVE CHICKEN CURRY' which was funnier to hear.




Ritesh than did a short quiz thing where he awarded signed T Shirts to people in the audience for answering simples questions. A highlight was an old auntie planting a kiss unexpectedly.

Vishal and Shekar then came out again for a second time... this time they really got the crowd (and me) going! They really brought great energy to the stage and were coming on and off the stage and getting people cheering and standing up and applauding... was quite impressed. They did 'Bachchna Ae Haseeno' (the latest version) which I liked a lot and then 'Right here Right now' again which went on forever(not a bad thing) with Abhishek and Ritesh joining them. This for me was one of the high points in the whole 4 hours seeing all the guys have fun together.. They were all running around shouting 'Come on London!' and they all had great chemistry with each other, belly hitting(is that even a word) here and there as they passed each other by... was wonderful.

Ode to Love

Next came an interesting act which I like to call an 'Ode to Love'. It started off with 2 dancers coming on and doing a 'in love' kind of dance which you'd see in a typical Yash Chopra film in Switzerland while a poem was recited by someone not on the stage. Than the stage opened and 'Dil De Diya Hai' from 'Masti' opened with Ritesh didn't go on for too long before poem carried on before Preity did 'Main Yahaan Hoon' from 'Veer Zara'. Than came one I was looking forward to... 'Tere Bina' from Guru with Abhi and Aish which was overly cute! The dancing was very much how it was picturised on film, simple yet beautiful. Suddenly it got old school as 'Tere Bindiya' from Amitabh and Jaya's 'Abhimaan' started. Aish led Amitabh and Abhi led Jaya to the middle of the stage where they exchanged rings I think and a little stool was brought which got Jaya up to Amitabh's height before a little cuddle ended it. Was nice seeing all the Bachchans on stage doing cute things.

Amitabh's Dialogue

It then came to the bit I was most looking forward to... Amitabh reciting old dialogue... He started with the poem from 'Kabhi Kabhi' which got me into the mood for the more powerful stuff. Next came the poem 'Agneepath' where Amitabh explained that it was written by his father in the 1930s to inspire young Indians to gain independance, wonderfully recited. Dialogue from 'Agneepath' the film was next. Like a King addressing his nation and in his altered deeper voice... 'VIJAY DINANATH CHAUHAN..' (CHEEEEEER) 'PURA NAAM'.... you know when it feels like your insides just want to jump outside because of how happy you are... this was one of them moments.
However I knew it wasn't over yet. His classic dialogue from Deewar was still to come where he pleads for his mother's life. Amitabh gave a bit of context before he started it saying that he wasn't sure he could pull off such dialogue so he went to the writers Salim-Javed who told him to feel the role and pull it off. He arrived at the set at 9am and Yash Chopra told him that there was no rush and it was upto him when he wanted to shoot it. He stayed in the makeup room all day till 10pm when he told Yash Chopra that he was ready. It was great telling us all this because it was if it was happening all over again right on stage like all those years ago. I loved how he went into it: 'Lights... Camera... Clank... Action.....     Aaj Bahut Kush toh Honge Tum...' and he went on... The recitation of this dialogue far surpassed the Agneepath dialogue... I'd seen a concert performance of this dialogue on Youtube before but hearing it live was something else altogether... I really don't have words to describe it... It was worth the ticket price alone... Let's just say moments like that make me realise why Amitabh Bachchan is my favourite actor. Also the audience reacted very well to it with a great and genuine round of applause with many on their feet. Poor Amitabh got into tears and said everytime he does it, he is reminded of his own mother who died last year.

Final Performances:

So than it came to the final performances as it neared an end... Preity and Abhishek came on and did a cute little thing with 'Rock and Roll Soniye'... Like Genelia I have no idea what Ritesh did, not because I don't know but because i've forgotten... than came 'Kajra Re' with the Bachchan trio. Abhi and Aish started it off with Amitabh joining at the end. Was in awe of Amitabh's energy! He was still going strong!
Finished the show off with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom with the whole cast... a great song for a great ending for a great show!

Amitabh took the Mic and thanked the audience and asked them to give a round of applause to the 150 dancers who work tirelessly in the background. The promoter guy, think his name was John Singh, came on next and thanked a whole load of people before it all officially ended.

But was it over? Not quite yet. The whole cast and crew were still on stage dancing to a tune Amitabh was singing. (Found out on his blog that it was a new track he'd recorded). It was a mix of old Khaike Paan with a slightly different beat. It grew on me already and I was humming it the next day. They were all dancing and pointing and waving for quite a while before they gradually left and we made our way home.

I've left this to the end as I think it spoiled my whole experience... the freaking seats!!! I was so dissapointed that I never saw any of there faces and had to rely on the screen which wasn't that big either. The thing was despite me being a student low on funds I was prepared to fork out quite a bit to see the stars up close but at the prices they were asking for? It was ridiculous. I'm dissapointed in whoever set the prices so high whether it was the promoters or the cast themselves for asking for too much money. These are once in a lifetime functions and it just hurts that I couldn't enjoy it as well as I wanted.

However it wasn't all doom and gloom as I was quite impressed at how it was all put together using the stage itself as a backdrop for moods of songs. I also loved the entrance videos for each superstar. They were all different and complimented each superstar in different ways. I absolutely loved Amitabh's entrance video. His was much longer than all the others and though it was much more 'idolistic' it really built the atmosphere up as everyone waited. As mentioned above it was set on the backdrop of 'O Fortuna' which gave him an almost regal, royal status among the stars. I've been watching it again and again on Youtube for past few days because I liked it so much. If you cringe at over loving than don't watch it.

Another thing I must inform you of is contrary to what media reports and Amitabh's blog and interviews say it was not fully sold out(or maybe it was and many didn't turn out which I doubt). There were many empty seats throughout the arena. I'd say it was 75-90% full. Not bad though and would have been sold out I think if prices were cheaper.

In conclusion it was my first ever concert and it was a brilliant experience only spoiled by where I was sitting. To hear Amitabh sing and recite dialogue was a dream come true which I will never forget. Though I doubt it I hope someday Amitabh comes to London again to do something similar where I can sit closer and enjoy it much more. But until then at least I can say I was one of the few that went to the Unforgettable Tour and saw Amitabh in all his glory.

[elizabethbennet]

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is reads very realistic and honest

[Vijay_UK]

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is reads very realistic and honest

Thank you. I realise it is very Amitabh-centred but he was the main attraction for me and my favourite actor so that is why.

Also to add I thought the choices of the songs were brilliant! From the oldies to the newer ones. Great mixture of Western influenced and traditional Indian songs. Quite impressed with that.

[Savera]

I wonder what you make of this exchange on Big B's blog?

Hyder Hyderabadi says:
August 26th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Congratulations on the success of the unforgettable’s tour. Glad that we became a part of history.. It was the best feeling in the world to see you guys and talk you in our own hometown.. ( Houston for me)
And to the media who says that the mainstream American audience didnt participate in the tour….so be it…
Why is it that for the media,the applause of a minority foreign audience that does not connect with India Cinema is more important than the majority of the Indian audience.. The audience that they serve, that watches them, that defines its existence..

ab Reply:
August 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am

It was never meant for the foreign audience.. it was meant for you.. if they good.. if they did not their loss.
The media is in a desperate state. they want to destroy.. but are unaware of the power of the people.. the people have given them a stunning reply

[aby2000]

Found AB's deewar dialogue in the London show....and the person filming it is actually crying...just amazing...it also makes you realise how priceless an actor AB is!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPPuDo_O_XU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Qtm8-JHXU

[Anamika]

 ).

I wonder what you make of this exchange on Big B's blog?
...

I saw that one, and - as a part of the 'minority foreign audience' (as that guy, who's actually living in Houston, put it... ) - I was somewhat taken aback by this exchange.

I think and hope, that AB just wanted to lash out at the media, as he loves to do, and got carried away - not realizing how derogatory towards foreigners his reply sounded.
On the other hand, a big part of the show was obviously meant for Indians/NRIs only, especially Amitabh's classic filmi dialogues. You would have to understand Hindi and know a lot about Hindi films before being able to appreciate them.

[Vijay_UK]

).
I saw that one, and - as a part of the 'minority foreign audience' (as that guy, who's actually living in Houston, put it... ) - I was somewhat taken aback by this exchange.

I think and hope, that AB just wanted to lash out at the media, as he loves to do, and got carried away - not realizing how derogatory towards foreigners his reply sounded.
On the other hand, a big part of the show was obviously meant for Indians/NRIs only, especially Amitabh's classic filmi dialogues. You would have to understand Hindi and know a lot about Hindi films before being able to appreciate them.

I don't think it is as bad as it sounds. I think what he is trying to say is that 'Sure it's great if we have more viewers from across the globe but at the end of the day the majority of the fans will always be NRIs.'

[tabula rasa]

I don't think it is as bad as it sounds. I think what he is trying to say is that 'Sure it's great if we have more viewers from across the globe but at the end of the day the majority of the fans will always be NRIs.'

Now, now, lets not put words into AB's mouth. He apparently doesn't like it.

[Vijay_UK]

Now, now, lets not put words into AB's mouth. He apparently doesn't like it.

Haha... I guess so. What do you make of the exchange?

[Spencer]

I don't think it is as bad as it sounds. I think what he is trying to say is that 'Sure it's great if we have more viewers from across the globe but at the end of the day the majority of the fans will always be NRIs.'

AB was responding to the stupid Indian media who tried to claim his tour was a flop because it mainly attracted an NRI audience and not a non-indian western audience.  He was saying the tour was for fans and not to target any particular group.  His wording should not be interpreted any other way.

[Vijay_UK]

AB was responding to the stupid Indian media who tried to claim his tour was a flop because it mainly attracted an NRI audience and not a non-indian western audience.  He was saying the tour was for fans and not to target any particular group.  His wording should not be interpreted any other way.

I'm not interpreting it in any negative way. The main target will always be NRIs.

[aby2000]

Yes...that is the desperation of the media to flop the show in any possible way....

[tabula rasa]

With regards to the profit status of the venture, I'm tempted to think the truth is somewhere in the middle. I don't think the shows were a 'flop' (that's such a harsh word, and these days quite meaningless, seeing as most producers pocket their costs by the time the ticket stalls open ) but I doubt it was this housefull resounding success either. From some snippets I saw, some venues still had plenty of empty seats - and not just individual ones scattered across the auditorium, but patches of them.

I think its human nature to refute one exaggeration with another, as if a response of a higher degree would overwhelm and quash the previous accusation. People are always so tempted to be right all the time.

I think and hope, that AB just wanted to lash out at the media, as he loves to do, and got carried away - not realizing how derogatory towards foreigners his reply sounded

Anamika, I don't see what's 'derogatory' in saying that the concerts were not meant for the foreign audience. He's delineating the target group, much as Hollywood doesn't - though everyone knows HW makes films for the US, the marketing thrust is always global, in order to increase profits, so you'd never hear some Warner/Paramount honcho going "Hancock is not for the Indian audience". If such a statement was made, would that be considered derogatory towards Indians?

[Vijay_UK]

Yes...that is the desperation of the media to flop the show in any possible way....

I agree. Someone made a great point in response to ABs latest blog saying that for some reason in India the press always try and tarnish the stars whereas it doesn't happen in Hollywood.

[tabula rasa]

I agree. Someone made a great point in response to ABs latest blog saying that for some reason in India the press always try and tarnish the stars whereas it doesn't happen in Hollywood.

Could you paste that post here? Cuz I find that hard to believe - 95% of tabloids do exactly that - one week they're all too thin, next they're all too fat, one week Britney is a regretful mother, next Lindsay is a drug swinging b***h. Indian press hasn't gotten to that level yet, but it looks like its going on the shortcut route to it.

[Vijay_UK]

Could you paste that post here? Cuz I find that hard to believe - 95% of tabloids do exactly that - one week they're all too thin, next they're all too fat, one week Britney is a regretful mother, next Lindsay is a drug swinging b***h. Indian press hasn't gotten to that level yet, but it looks like its going on the shortcut route to it.

Nikhil says:
August 29th, 2008 at 9:05 am

Dear Mr. Bacchan,
I am a fan of yours….probably not a die hard….but according to me, you are the best that we have today and I truly admire you.
In the interview I dont think there was anything wrong or derogatory said about the media or Mr Guha. Whatever you have said about the media(and especially a certain part of it) is absolutely correct. Why is it in bollywood , media likes to portray enmity between two actors?(I am specifically avoiding the word superstars). This stuff never happens in hollywood. The best way to defend yourself is to ignore such comments and continue with our life. As it is said very correctly, ‘ There is no truth, there are only interpretations ‘. I hope you will continue to enlighten our lives with your work more than anything else.
I hope I did not waste your time.
Sincerely,
Nikhil

ab Reply:
August 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Interesting point you have raised.. must take that up somewhere.. about Hollywood..thank you..

[Anamika]

Anamika, I don't see what's 'derogatory' in saying that the concerts were not meant for the foreign audience. He's delineating the target group, much as Hollywood doesn't - though everyone knows HW makes films for the US, the marketing thrust is always global, in order to increase profits, so you'd never hear some Warner/Paramount honcho going "Hancock is not for the Indian audience". If such a statement was made, would that be considered derogatory towards Indians?

I think there's a big difference between films and a concert tour. If you make a concert tour and you go to another country, I think it's very impolite to tell the population of that country, "I'm not coming to entertain you, I'm coming for my own countrymen".

I'll give you an analogy that IMO fits better than your Hollywood one: Madonna is touring Germany right now, and she always makes a point in addressing people in German and saying nice things about Germany and Germans.
That's just politeness of course, but I'd find it equally derogatory if she came here and told people, "I'm not making this concert for you but for the Americans in Germany" (of which there are many thousands btw, enough to fill concert halls just like NRIs in the U.S. or UK).

[tabula rasa]

Nikhil says:
August 29th, 2008 at 9:05 am

Dear Mr. Bacchan,
I am a fan of yours….probably not a die hard….but according to me, you are the best that we have today and I truly admire you.
In the interview I dont think there was anything wrong or derogatory said about the media or Mr Guha. Whatever you have said about the media(and especially a certain part of it) is absolutely correct. Why is it in bollywood , media likes to portray enmity between two actors?(I am specifically avoiding the word superstars). This stuff never happens in hollywood. The best way to defend yourself is to ignore such comments and continue with our life. As it is said very correctly, ‘ There is no truth, there are only interpretations ‘. I hope you will continue to enlighten our lives with your work more than anything else.
I hope I did not waste your time.
Sincerely,
Nikhil

ab Reply:
August 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Interesting point you have raised.. must take that up somewhere.. about Hollywood..thank you..

Thanks - as you see, the post is about the write-ups on enmity between actors (not sure if he'd include female actors in that equation), not about bringing down actors overall, as you've mentioned. It refers to a certain kind of cattiness that the Indian media assumes about the fraternity, not the whole pattern of 'set them up, then bring them down' which tabloids all over revel in. Ukbollywoodfan, looks like if we're not cautious, we can be equally guilty of 're-interpreting' information to suit our own presumed perspective of it.  And perhaps that's what the actual media is sometimes guilty of, unconscious 'Chinese whispers' re-forming of interview information, and not always a vengeful campaign as the celebrities sometimes pout about.

I think there's a big difference between films and a concert tour. If you make a concert tour and you go to another country, I think it's very impolite to tell the population of that country, "I'm not coming to entertain you, I'm coming for my own countrymen".

I'll give you an analogy that IMO fits better than your Hollywood one: Madonna is touring Germany right now, and she always makes a point in addressing people in German and saying nice things about Germany and Germans.
That's just politeness of course, but I'd find it equally derogatory if she came here and told people, "I'm not making this concert for you but for the Americans in Germany" (of which there are many thousands btw, enough to fill concert halls just like NRIs in the U.S. or UK).

I hear ya, I should've made a better comparison. Then again, its not as if AB jumped on to a US stage and yelled to the audience that he's only doing it for the Indians, and not to the little bunches of Westerners there. He responded to an ardent fan on a blog, and is likely to have been aware that such a sentiment would only make the fan go over the moon (the fact that he was responding in the first place) and that he was agreeing with him. He wasn't going out of his way to insult non-Indian fans, even if it could be said that Western fans might be checking out his blog (which, even there, would be in the minority). It was a passing comment, and not the point of the conversation at all - or even the sentence.

The reality is that despite appearances and shout outs, the Indian film global exposure is still majorly restricted to an NRI audience, especially in the US. There is notice of foreign fandom, especially around Europe, because it is new, and is still being evaluated and discussed - but it has in no way been significant enough in numbers to warrant specific or inclusive investment in them. I'd still say, that be it a concert, or film, or premiere, or playback singer event, being staged overseas, the thrust is for the Indian audience, but when a Hollywood film stages a celebrity event somewhere in the world, the thrust is to that mainstream audience. (Case in point, Sydney-siders and Melburnians lose all sense when a world premiere of a Hollywood movie is held there, and IMO that's a death knell for Australian filmmaking, but that's another post).

[Savera]

I think there's a big difference between films and a concert tour. If you make a concert tour and you go to another country, I think it's very impolite to tell the population of that country, "I'm not coming to entertain you, I'm coming for my own countrymen".

I'll give you an analogy that IMO fits better than your Hollywood one: Madonna is touring Germany right now, and she always makes a point in addressing people in German and saying nice things about Germany and Germans.
That's just politeness of course, but I'd find it equally derogatory if she came here and told people, "I'm not making this concert for you but for the Americans in Germany" (of which there are many thousands btw, enough to fill concert halls just like NRIs in the U.S. or UK).

You're reading it the way I did, Anamika. I felt a bit hurt & offended that Big B didn't have a more welcoming attitude 

[Marbs84]

If anything, i think Big B and the rest of the cast on the tour should appreciate foreigners who come to the show to enjoy themselves but for him to say that we are not doing this show for you but for my people is a bit rude and ignorant.

We always tell foreigners who come to our country to respect and appreciate our culture and beliefs, then we should do the same when we visit other countries, whether we are there to entertain or simply, just on vacation.

I remember when Claire Danes came to the Philippines to film a movie, all she did was say bad things about the Philippines, how there are street children everywhere, cockroaches, etc. For someone who went educated and went to Yale, she was more illiterate than those street kids she saw. And another thing, they had to find a place where it's dirty, because the scene is supposed to be like that. From then on, I just hated her. Thinking about it again, just pisses me off.

[Spencer]

You're reading it the way I did, Anamika. I felt a bit hurt & offended that Big B didn't have a more welcoming attitude 

Man, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.  The media was trying to say he failed to get a western audience and he responded by saying that the tour was for fans (any fans) to see them live.  No where did he say it was only for Indians or insult non-Indians.  The old guy is always being attacked for no reason even here.
LOL