The highly acclaimed “Shwaas’ directed by Sandeep Sawant is India’s entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Film category. The film has won many awards including the National Award for best film and the Maharashtra State Award 2004.

Shwaas is one among the 49 entries in the category and a lack of funds is hampering the efforts to screen and publicize the film in the US.

A 28-member 'Shwaas' delegation, including director Sandeep Sawant and seven producers, will fly to Los Angeles in three phases to attend the 77th Academy Awards function to be held there next year on February 27.

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar and some other members of the Indian team held an auction of T-shirts, bats, stumps and balls in Mumbai to raise funds and Amitabh Bachan has reportedly donated Rs. 1 Lakh to help.

After a longish break Hrithik Roshan is raring to go! His famous green eyes light up as he talked about his next venture. Directed by his dada Rakesh Roshan, the film is supposed to take of where Koi Mil Gaya ended. Old favorite Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah and Priyanka have also signed up. The film promises to be a one-of-a-kind film but all concerned with the project have their lips sealed! We’ll let you know the moment we hear more!

More gossip on the film is that Rakesh Roshan dashed all speculations to the ground when he announced that not Ash Rai but Priyanka Chopra would star in the sequel to Koi Mil Gaya. While Ash’s secretary maintains that he does not know the reason for Roshan’s change of hear, the director insists that Chopra was his first and only choice. The reason could also be that reigning queen Ash has some international commitments and dates would have been an issue. Besides, Hrithik is supposed to have requested his dad to take the pretty Chopra on!

One of our favorite Bollywood musicians Mr. Sandeep Chowta will be composing the theme track for the 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing. US musicians Jay Oliver and Ricky Gannaway along with Chowta comprise a musical band ‘AO’ (from an ancient Polynesian word)

'Khamosh Pani' directed by Pakistani director Sabiha Sumar starring Kiron Kher, hits the theaters in India on December 3. The film has won over 12 international awards and is critically acclaimed. Pakistani actors Salman Shahid and Arshad Mahmood and Aaamir Malik feature in the film with Kher.

Who can blame Anu Malik for walking around with the widest grin plastered on his face? The man, besides having a queue of producers waiting to sign him up has just signed to compose music for Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Mistress Of Spices’. Chaddha, her husband and Deepak Nayar will produce the film.

  Actress Farah Khan, Tabu’s older sibling is making a comeback into the big screen with Priyadarshan’s Hulchul. Her last release was Achanak with Govinda and Manisha Koirala.

Tehran 9th International Short Film Festival saw the Indian entry 'Little Terrorist" by Ashvin Kumar win the Grand Prize. The event, that concluded on November 22 had many countries participating. Ashwin’s prize included $4000 apart from the certificate and trophy and was presented to him by the Iranian Minister of Culture and Guidance Ahmad Masjad Jamei.

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