Gorillaz: Demon days ahead

What?s different about the band the Gorillaz? The members ? guitarist Noodle, vocalist 2-D, bassist Murdoc Nicalls and drummer Russel Hobbs ? do not exist in real life! But that didn?t stop the virtual band?s debut album in 2001 from selling over six million copies.

Now, they are set to release the follow-up, Demon Days, and fans have the chance to get their artwork featured on the album. Channel V?s Draw The Gorillaz contest, starting May 23, lets anyone post a creation of the Gorillaz in action. It could be Gorillaz playing cricket, or protesting against a loony politician. Contributors can log on to vindia.com and send in the entries. A lucky winner?s drawing will be featured on the new album.

The Gorillaz was conceived as the first ?virtual hip-hop group? by Blur?s Damon Albarn and comic creator Jamie Hewlett. Demon Days is a darker and more intense affair than 2001?s Gorillaz and features collaborations by Neneh Cherry, MF Doom, Ike Turner, the London Community Gospel and more.

Rituparna: Victory sign

Shadow lines

If everything works out fine, this summer will see Jeet and Rituparna Sengupta pairing up for the second time after Ashok Dhanuka?s moderately successful Aakrosh early last year. Chhayapath is the story of a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy fighting social bias for a life together.

?Rituparna plays the Muslim girl who is sold off by her uncle and aunt to a gang of goons. Then, the hero rescues her from the mafia and love blossoms between the two. But the hero hails from a Brahmin family and after some initial resistance, his parents accept the girl,? says director Bidesh Sarkar.

?Jeet is supposed to play the leading man but his dates are yet to be finalised,? adds Sarkar, the maker of Shakti, Jiban Trishna and Parichay.

Also starring in Chhayapath are Soumitra Chatterjee, Ranjit Mullick, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Anuradha Roy and Labony Sarkar. While Soumitra plays the hero?s father, Sabyasachi is a corrupt ex-armyman. Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet and Asha Bhonsle will do the playback.

Jadoo: The comeback

Mini magic

Jadoo is coming back to television this summer. Season II of J Bole toh Jadoo is on air with all new episodes at noon every Sunday on Nick. The alien of Koi? Mil Gaya fame who debuted on the small screen on Children?s Day had 6,60,000 kids tuning in since then, out of which 40,000-plus kids responded to Jadoo?s appeal for help in the 15th and final episode of J Bole Toh Jadoo Season I by participating in the ?I want to be with Jadoo? contest, promoted on Nick and sister channel MTV.

One winner will get a chance to star with Jadoo in multiple episodes to be aired on Nick in mid-June. Speaking on Season II, Pradeep Hejmadi, director, business and operations, Nick India, said: ?The plan was always to bring back Jadoo on Nick... In Season II, look out for even more amazing animation, action, music, humour and fascinating characters.?

In the new series, Nick has focused on localised content and situations, based on well-known mythological stories. Also entwined in the plot will be subtle social messages.

Said Hejmadi: ?For kids, the best learning comes through subtle but effective messaging from role models. Jadoo is just that and he?s entertaining too.?

Tech ticket

The city?s first multiplex will now introduce SMS and Internet ticket booking facilities. From May 27, viewers can cut the queues and just click on the mouse or type on the cell phone keypad to book tickets for their favourite films at INOX.

Calcutta is the third stop for the service after Mumbai and Pune. For SMS booking, key in the name of the hall (INOX Forum or City Centre), the code for the film (watch out for the advertisements), the date, time and number of tickets and send it to 3636.

In return, you?ll get a confirmation. Show up at the ticket counter about 30 minutes before the film, pay and collect your tickets. Or, log on to www.inoxmovies.com and buy them online, with credit card payments.

The service will be launched by actress Koneenica Banerjee and children from The Action Aid Society at INOX Forum on Thursday.