Mumbai: Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has said that he would appeal against a ban on the title song of his upcoming film 'Rann', which has whipped up a controversy. The censor board has decided to ban the title song that appears similar to the national anthem in its tune, but with different lyrics. "Rann" ( Battle ) delves into the highly competitive world of television news reporting in India, putting the spotlight on the media industry's insatiable appetite for advertisers and viewers. The film is touted as a behind-the-scene look at how news channels greedy for ratings are being manipulated into sensationalizing reports to grab eyeballs. "If the censor board don't want to pass, I will go to the tribunal advising committee and whatever the procedures allow me I will do that," Varma said. He said that the critics did not really understand the context of the song, adding that he was ready for a debate. "I think the people who are having a problem are in minority and they are not listening seriously to what exactly the song is saying. I like to have a conversation with them," Varma said. With more than 60 English and regional language news channels in India beaming into TV-owning homes, the film comes at a time when broadcasters are scrambling to provide exclusive content.

Big-B promotes his latest movie in New Delhi

     New Delhi: Amitabh Bachchan and Ram Gopal Varma promoted their forthcoming movie 'Rann' in New Delhi. Apart from Amitabh Bachchan, this movie features wellknown actors of Bollywood like Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala and Rajat Kapoor. Also in the star cast are Riteish Deshmukh, Purab Kohli and Gul Panag. Varma said that the movie focuses on the psychological aspect of the media business rather than its technical side. "I know 'Rann' is going to be a very special film because it is not so much about my take on the media. Media is a connecting agency between people and various organisations and various happenings and various people," said Varma. In the film, Amitabh Bachchan plays the head of a round-the-clock news channel. "The way I am sitting in front of you, that's all I have prepared on my own. The rest has been done by Varma. He instructed me the way to sit, how to give my speech and how to emote. I simply obeyed him," said Amitabh Bachchan. Reportedly, the title song of the film with the lyrics 'Jana Gana Mana Rann Hai' has been twisted from the Indian national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.
- May 9, 2009