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Tributes paid to Ismail Merchant
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Nov 21 (IANS) Rich tributes were paid to noted filmmaker Ismail Merchant in an art house in London with several film stars recalling the qualities of head and heart of the India-born director.

Best known for his partnership with James Ivory, Merchant died on May 25. He left behind a legion of actors and actresses who remembered him fondly at a memorial service in Mayfair late last week.

The art house Curzon in Mayfair could just about hold the stars, friends, extras, cooks (Merchant was a great cook) and critics who remembered him fondly.

As a producer, Merchant made 37 films, among them "The Remains of The Day", "Heat and Dust" and "A Room With A View". He directed six, including "The Mystic Masseur".

James Wilby, who starred with Hugh Grant in Merchant and Ivory's "Maurice" in 1987, was there, as too were Donald Sinden, Stephen Fry and James Fox, who played Lord Darlington, in "The Remains of the Day" in 1993. 

So were two 19-year-old film hopefuls, Leonara Lonsdale and Charles Reston, who acted as "runners" on "The White Countess", Merchant's last film. It stars Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes and will be released next month. 

Salman Rushdie recalled the "very good fish curries" he shared with Merchant. "He was always interested in me writing an original script for him and he kept telling me that he had the perfect film for me to write. It is very sad that it didn't happen." 

Felicity Kendal, cast in the 1965 "Shakespeare-Wallah", was one of the first to arrive at the memorial. 

Film critic Derek Malcolm, spoke of Merchant "who, in Bombay, took me to a transvestite knocking-shop" then played a prank, by tapping on his hotel door at night, pretending to be a call girl.

Emma Thompson spoke of a terrible row she had with Merchant when he asked her to work an extra Sunday while Simon Callow recalled how Merchant asked him to play the elegant male lead role in "A Room With A View".

Tina Turner, the singer, was also at the memorial. Merchant died before he could begin a film starring her as Kali in "The Goddess". Turner said she had been looking forward to playing a woman who danced on a tiger with a necklace of human skulls: 

"I spent the summer with Ismail in India, He said that he had been looking for me to do the part for about seven years."

Ivory said that the film had been abandoned. "It was really Ismail's film. The films he directed were so different from mine."

Kylie Minogue not to visit Australia this Christmas
DPA

Sydney, Nov 21 (DPA) Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue, undergoing treatment for breast cancer in Paris, won't be home in Melbourne for Christmas as planned and will bring her "Showgirl: The Greatest Hits" road show to Australia only late next year.

A statement released Monday by promoter Michael Gudinski said his Frontier Touring Company had booked Australian venues for "Showgirl" for late 2006.

"We appreciate that the end of next year is a long time away for ticket holders, and the option of refunding tickets will remain available to fans," Gudinski said.

The rescheduling came a month after Melbourne-born Minogue announced she had scrapped plans to perform at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in her home town in March.

The 37-year-old singer had a malignant lump removed from her breast in Melbourne on May 20. Minogue, who lives in London, postponed the Australian and Asian legs of her "Showgirl" tour when she was diagnosed with breast cancer just days before her operation.

She is undergoing treatment in France, where she shares an apartment with her fiance, film star Olivier Martinez.

British newspapers reported last week that the former "Neighbours" actor was "distraught" she wouldn't be able to return to Melbourne for the traditional Minogue family Christmas because of chemotherapy sessions in Paris that would not end until Dec 18.

"She's distraught because it's going to be a very traumatic time for her rather than the happy family day she'd planned," The Sun newspaper quoted a friend as saying.

Indo-Asian News Service

Mick Jagger hits out at Tony Blair
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Nov 21 (IANS) Rolling Stones lead singer Sir Mick Jagger has hit out at British Prime Minister Tony Blair for agreeing to join the US in the war against Iraq.

According to contactmusic.com, Jagger has said that Blair lied about reasons to go to war in Iraq and that he has no long term plan for the country after the initial military action.

He said: "It makes me very angry that Blair already knew that arms of mass destruction were simply an excuse and had nothing planned for the day after. Only now is the US discovering the reality of Iraq."

He also criticised infiltrators from Iran into Iraq saying: "The coalition is confronting a war of attrition to defend a regime that does not appear very worried about the rights of women and minorities."

Baldwin, Basinger divorce gets nastier
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Nov 21 (IANS) The divorce battle between Hollywood actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger is getting nastier.

According to the New York Post, Baldwin has filed new legal papers in his custody battle with Basinger. 

He claims that Basinger has turned their daughter, Ireland, into a spy. She supposedly phones her mother when she stays with him and reports on his actions. 

In the documents Baldwin also claims that he has spent over $1 million in legal fees. The battle is expected to come to a final showdown in court next month.

Paris Hilton to release rap album
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Nov 21 (IANS) Hotel heiress Paris Hilton is going to come out with a new album in which she raps with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss and Fat Joe.

The New York Post reports that Hilton is a classically trained violinist. But she won't be playing the violin on her new album. 

Paris told Blender magazine: "I'm not going to be onstage playing the violin. That would be gay." 

There is also a song called "Jealousy" where Hilton comments on the spat with her former friend Nicole Richie. "I don't even know what is happening with us, I hope she doesn't get mad when she hears it," Paris said.

Love ready with new album
Indo-Asian News Service

New York, Nov 21 (IANS) Troubled rocker Courtney Love, who has been in and out of rehab for drug addiction, has tentatively titled her new album "The Rehab Demos".

According to Pagesix.com, the album is a collection of songs she wrote while she was undergoing treatment in rehab. 

Love said: "I just sort of lost faith in myself last year, getting dragged off to Bellevue in front of the whole ***ing world, it can really zap a person's confidence."

Some of the song titles are "Depths of My Despair" and "How Dirty Girls Get Clean." She claims she is now sober and practicing Buddhism.

Lovelorn Phoenix might quit acting
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Nov 21 (IANS) Actor Joaquin Phoenix is contemplating quitting acting to concentrate on finding true love.

According to contactmusic.com, the star of the newly released and acclaimed film "Walk The Line" confessed that life as a celebrity was exhausting. 

He said he was finally ready to leave it all behind and explore his romantic options.

"I'd like a relationship - I've grown very tired of acting, the whole process, having to walk away from my life. It takes a lot out of you and I'm growing tired of it," he said.

Moss to sing for late singer MacColl
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Nov 21 (IANS) The supermodel Kate Moss is set to record a duet with the lead singer of the band The Pogues of the classic Christmas song "Fairytale In New York."

The collaboration will raise money for 'Justice For Kirsty', in honour of late singer Kirsty MacColl who sang the original female vocals on the festive track, according to contactmusic.com.

MacColl was killed by a speedboat while swimming in Mexico five years ago. An inquiry has been launched into the singer's untimely death thanks to the efforts of MacColl's mother Jean, who is heading the campaign. 


'Raging Bull' tops sports movies' list
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Nov 21 (IANS) Robert DeNiro's Oscar winning portrayal in the Martin Scorsese directed film "Raging Bull" has been named the best sports movie of all time in a magazine poll.

According to contactmusic.com, "Raging Bull" beat the likes of the golf comedy "Caddyshack" and the basketball classic "Hoosiers" starring Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper. 

The list was compiled by Entertainment Weekly magazine.

The top 10 films on the list are: Raging Bull (1); Caddyshack (2); Hoosiers (3); Rocky (4); Bull Durham (5); Million Dollar Baby (6); Breaking Away (7); The Bad News Bears (8); Friday Night Lights (9); Slap Shot (10).


'Goblet Of Fire' on internet before theatres
Indo-Asian News Service

London, Nov 21 (IANS) Harry Potter movie executives are angry and have launched an investigation into how the latest movie "The Goblet Of Fire" was released on the internet even before it was released in British theatres.

According to contactmusic.com, fans have been able to download the movie for free on the internet days before its official release date. 

In an effort to nab possible copyright violators, ushers at certain theatres have been given night-vision goggles. This enables them to spot viewers trying to record pirated copies of the film with hidden video cameras.

A source said: "The situation is way out of control. The fact that the latest Harry Potter film has been leaked on to the web is a huge blow for everyone concerned. 

"The public should be worried too because any of these downloads which make it onto pirated DVDs help to fund organised crime like drugs and prostitution."