Billu premiere for barbers and hairstylists

In a move to appease the Hairdressers' Associations of Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan is planning to invite various barbers and hairstylists for the premiere of "Billu", which was earlier titled "Billu Barber".

"As far as I know, Shah Rukh is planning a premiere for the various barbers and hairdressers' associations, so they'd see and know that the film doesn't ridicule them in any way. In fact, the film is a homage to the hair-cutting technique. I can't understand how there can be a protest about the film or its title without anyone seeing the film," Priyadarshan told IANS.

According to Priyadarshan, Shah Rukh is not inviting friends from the industry for the screening.

The film was earlier titled "Billu Barber", but when Hairdressers' Associations of Mumbai objected to the use of the word "barber" in the title, Shah Rukh, who is producing the film and making a guest appearance, decided to change it.

"I'm in Chennai. Shah Rukh Khan tells me all the posters hoarding with credits will blacken out the word 'barber'. If it was hurting anyone's sentiments, I'm okay by it," Priyadarshan said.

He wonders how the word 'barber' could be okay in other languages and not in Hindi.

"Does it mean half the Indian population is not put off by the title and the other half is upset about it? I don't understand the controversy. And I've left it entirely to Shah Rukh to deal with it."

The director has no plans of being in Mumbai for the release of "Billu". "I've done my best. And Irrfan Khan in the title role is the best homage that can be paid to any profession."

Priyan does wonder, and so do we, if we as a collective nation protest too much.

Irrfan Khan plays the title role and is paired with Lara Dutta in the film, which is releasing on Friday (Feb 13). Shah Rukh will make a guest appearance along with Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone.

"SRK is planning a premiere for barber's associations" - Priyadarshan

It's final. Billu Barber will now be called Billu. And the director Priyadarshan seems resigned to the title's fate. "I'm in Chennai. Mr. Producer Shah Rukh tells me all the posters hoarding with credits will blacken out the word 'Barber'. If it was hurting anyone's sentiments I'm okay by it."

In a flash move to appease the hairdressers' associations of Mumbai, the premiere of Billu in Mumbai later this week will exclusively invite members of various barbers' and hairstylists' associations.

Priyadarshan reveals Billu's premiere plans. "As far as I know, Shah Rukh is planning a premiere for the various barbers and hairdressers' associations, so they'd see and know that the film doesn't ridicule them in any way. In fact Billu is homage to the hair-cutting technique. I can't understand how there can be a protest about the film or its title without anyone seeing the film."

The premiere, according to Priyan, won't invite Shah Rukh's friends from the industry, only members of the hair-cutting community. Priyadarshan wonders how the word 'Barber' could be okay in other languages and not in Hindi. "Does it mean half the Indian population is not put off by the title and the other half is upset about it? I don't understand the controversy. And I've left it entirely to my producer Shah Rukh Khan to deal with it."

Priyan has no plans of being in Mumbai for the release of Billu. "I've done my best. And Irrfan Khan in the title role is the best homage that can be paid to any profession." Priyan does wonder, and so do we, if we as a collective nation protest too much.

Pics: What's been happening in tinseltown

Asin unveils her Filmfare cover, Vidya Balan at a musical concert and some more

I am Number One: That is what Asin seems to be saying


Too Much: That's Asin on the cover. We aren't fans. And her red and gold combination is a bit too shiny and loud. Tone it down, girl!


Bored: Vidya looks bored at a musical concert. And she shouldn't step out without her make up and hair done


Wah Ustaad Wah! That's the musical genius performing


Twosome: Kay Kay Menon and Rukhsar at a press meet for the Stoneman Murders


Grrr: Priyadarshan at the launch of horror film Grrr.

Priyadarshan calls Slumdog Millionaire cheap, trashy

Angry director hates the way Mumbai is portrayed

Indian movie director Priyadarshan has joined the bandwagon in slamming Danny Boyle's underdog saga "Slumdog Millionaire" and has called the film a "cheap trashy mediocre version" of erstwhile Bollywood hits.

"'Slumdog Millionaire' is nothing but a cheap trashy mediocre version of those commercial films about estranged brothers and childhood sweethearts that Salim-Javed used to write so brilliantly in the 1970s. And please quote me clearly on this. If the Golden Globe and Oscars committees have chosen to honour this trashy film it just shows their ignorance of world cinema," Priyadarshan told IANS.

Priyadarshan, whose much-acclaimed film on the silk weavers of “Kanjeevaram” was shown alongside Boyle's film at the Toronto Film Festival last year, feels Indians are exercising prideful property rights over a film that denigrates Mumbai.

"I saw the film with a mixed audience at the Toronto Film Festival. The Westerners loved it. All the Indians hated it. The West loves to see us as a wasteland, filled with horror stories of exploitation and degradation. But is that all there's to our beautiful city of Mumbai?"

He is surprised that Mumbai is celebrating a film that shows only the city's underbelly.

"Why are we taking this treatment? Just because a white man has made 'Slumdog Millionaire', we're so happy with it? I've read Vikas Swarup's novel 'Q&A'. It should have been made by Mani Ratnam. Then you'd have seen what he would have done with Mumbai."

The angry director wonders why there isn't a single shot in 'Slumdog...' that shows the more aesthetic side of Mumbai?

"Why has Danny Boyle not taken one shot of Marine Drive? Do his slum dwellers exist only within their slums? And look at the absurdities...A boy becomes a national hero on a game show. One cop takes him under arrest and interrogates him relentlessly. Where is everyone else? Is this kind of confinement possible in this day and age when television cameras enter your bedroom? If one of our filmmakers had made the same film we would have blasted him out of business."

"Let them give as many Oscars as they like. We don't need to be impressed," ends Priydarshan angrily.

Exclusive: Billoo Barber Trailer