Kazaa says hello to digital Bollywood

Grok Headline matches for Kazaa says hello to digital Bollywood

Kazaa to distribute Bollywood feature

Kazaa to distribute Bollywood feature 11/13/2003 12:21 PM
Kazaa has inked a deal to simultaneously distribute a theatrically released Bollywood movie, using its DRM-based Altnet technology.

"The Bollywood movie market is growing at twice the rate of Hollywood, in terms of production and revenue. This is where the benefits of P2P technology become really clear," Sharman CEO Nikki Hemming said in a statement. "P2P technology offers the movie industry a huge opportunity to massively enhance its distribution and generate revenue."

Link

Kazaa gets into showbiz, Bollywood style

Kazaa gets into showbiz, Bollywood style 11/12/2003 10:16 PM
ZDNet Australia Nov 12 2003 9:38PM ET

Bollywood signs up for Kazaa download
sales

Bollywood signs up for Kazaa download
sales 12/24/2003 12:13 PM
ZDNet UK Dec 24 2003 9:40AM ET

Bollywood puts more films online with
Kazaa

Bollywood puts more films online with
Kazaa 12/23/2003 08:07 PM
CNET Asia Dec 23 2003 7:32PM ET

Bollywood Signs Up For Kazaa Movie
Downloads... But Not Really

Bollywood Signs Up For Kazaa Movie
Downloads... But Not Really 12/23/2003 05:39 PM
There have been a few stories about "legitimate" companies doing deals with Kazaa, but once you get past the headline, you realize that it's not true at all. Just like all those other deals the headlines trumpeting a deal between some some Bollywood film makers and Kazaa isn't really about Kazaa at all. Instead, it's a deal with Kazaa's sister company Altnet, which runs a service within Kazaa to distribute approved copy protected content. So, this isn't at all about film makers understanding the promotional value of free downloads, but rather them trying to piggyback copy protection (in this case files that supposedly "self-destruct" after a single $3 viewing) on the popularity of Kazaa. The deal isn't even that good. $3 for a product that self-destructs after a single viewing? You get a better deal going to the local video store. Meanwhile, though, they get all the publicity of having the film "offered on Kazaa". All Altnet is really doing is bolting a pay-for service (like iTunes) into Kazaa. It doesn't leverage the real benefits of a distributed file sharing network at all.

Bollywood Embraces Kazaa Movie Downloads

Bollywood Embraces Kazaa Movie Downloads 12/23/2003 11:47 AM
MaximusTheGreat writes "While Hollywood tries to debate how to tackle P2P movie downloads, Bollywood the world's largest film industry has decided to embrace ...

Kazaa to digitally distribute a feature
film from Bollywood

Kazaa to digitally distribute a feature
film from Bollywood 11/13/2003 02:55 PM

Los dueños de Kazaa consiguen cerrar
Kazaa Lite

Los dueños de Kazaa consiguen cerrar
Kazaa Lite 12/08/2003 06:57 AM

KaZaA shuts down KaZaA Lite

KaZaA shuts down KaZaA Lite 12/08/2003 08:07 AM
Legal threats

Kazaa-Lite -v- Kazaa

Kazaa-Lite -v- Kazaa 12/11/2003 07:15 PM
It used a similar tactic a while back when it used it to force Google to remove or disable all access to the Infringing Material, said infringing material ...

Bollywood for the Skeptical

Bollywood for the Skeptical 12/24/2004 01:08 PM
Bollywood for the Skeptical offers information about Bollywood film, language in India, useful Hindi words, and even downloads of songs from Bollywood movies .. aquaint yourself with Bollywood music

ocf.berkeley.edu/~dboyk/bollywood
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Bollywood gambles on P2P

Bollywood gambles on P2P 12/23/2003 02:10 PM
In the UK Guardian today:

Bollywood movie fans will soon be able to download full-length features with the file-sharing software Kazaa. A deal struck between a partner of Sharman Networks Ltd, the company which owns Kazaa, and IndiaFM.com, a popular entertainment site, will allow Indian film producers to distribute movies, music and other large, rich media files online to an estimated 60 million international Kazaa users. The move follows a pilot scheme in November when Bollywood thriller Supari was offered for sale at US $2.99 and promoted through Kazaa prior to its release in India. The file was designed to self destruct after being watched and could not be copied.

Link

Spidey Goes to Bollywood

Spidey Goes to Bollywood 06/20/2004 04:06 PM
Marvel Comics and Gotham Entertainment Group are introducing a new version of Spiderman regionalized for South Asian audiences. In the Indian version, Peter Parker becomes Pavitr Prabhakar; instead of fighting the Green Goblin he'll battle Rakshasa, a mythical Indian demon. He's wearing a sarong-like garment, and he has unstoppable spiritual powers of asskickage. Link (Thanks, Robin Pen)

Bollywood online

Bollywood online 12/23/2003 08:07 PM
CNET Asia Dec 23 2003 7:32PM ET

"Bollywood for the Skeptical"

"Bollywood for the Skeptical" 12/24/2004 01:00 PM

Toronto-set Bollywood movie

Toronto-set Bollywood movie 05/27/2004 06:25 PM
Ouchless sez, "My mother found this Bollywood-esque film "poster" completely by accident. The movie is titled 'Coxwell and Gerrard', which is the main intersection in Toronto's Little India." Link (Thanks, Ouchless!)

MP3: Don't Stop 'til you Get to
Bollywood

MP3: Don't Stop 'til you Get to
Bollywood 04/13/2004 11:17 AM
A few days ago, Jonno pointed me to a Bollywood-flavored remake of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," which he found on a supercool sekrit MP3 blog that shall remain nameless. This track is phat. This track is funky. This track makes me want to do a little dance in my ergonomic chair. A little google-digging reveals the song is by a group called the Bollywood Freaks, and came out on a limited edition red vinyl 7" in the UK. I want to send them money for the funk they provide. I want more of their music. If anyone has info, cough it up.

But for now -- look! Someone dumped a copy of said funky track on a server somewhere. Download the MP3 while it lasts. Link

Bollywood in Internet download deal

Bollywood in Internet download deal 12/23/2003 05:47 PM
Deccan Herald Dec 23 2003 4:44PM ET

Bollywood Vanilla Coke ad which kicks
ass

Bollywood Vanilla Coke ad which kicks
ass 05/30/2004 05:44 PM
BoingBoing reader Vishal points us to a spectacularly cheesy Indian TV ad starring yet another one of my fut ure husbands (look, any fella who eschews SMS for pigeon as preferred love-note carrier is alright by me).

Vishal says, "This Ad is really popular in India, and I was surprised to find that the good people at Coke have it online too (RealPlayer). It features one of the hottest young actors in Bollywood, Vivek Oberoi, and features many in-jokes to '70s Bollywood films (note, especially, the lightbulb dress in the 3rd segment, a direct lift from a classic 70's movie)."

Footnote to menswear trendwatchers: take a tip from Vivek, at left -- pink vomit prints are the new black.

Update: BoingBoing reader Berklee totally harshes my mellow by saying, "Excellent choice for a future husband, but you'll have to wait until he's done with Aishwarya Rai, I'm afraid. Meanwhile, I recommend [a 2002 film starring Oberoi titled] Company. Go rent it (or download it) and enjoy this un-Bollywood-like gangster-movie!"
Link

Motherlode of free Bollywood MP3s

Motherlode of free Bollywood MP3s 12/22/2004 01:29 AM
Xeni Jardin: Sweeter than a mouthful of ja lebi. David Boyk says:

"While I was supposed to be studying for finals, I made a mix CD to introduce dubious Westerners to Bollywood. That didn't waste enough time, so I also made a big web site that has all the tracks from the CD, plus some more, and a lot of other information to explain Bollywood movies and music, and also to help a bit with language."

Far from a waste of time, David's terrific site includes a "bollywood for dummies" primer, and a very helpful list of common Hindi words you'll encounter. As for the MP3s, man -- there are some serious gems in here, in particular the rockin' 1960s numbers.

Link

Bollywood Dreams - Apple Loops 1.0

Bollywood Dreams - Apple Loops 1.0 08/27/2004 02:16 PM
Superb collection of Bollywood inspired loops for GarageBand!

Bollywood MP3 Disco Blowout Friday

Bollywood MP3 Disco Blowout Friday 06/04/2004 10:46 AM
Following up on this previous BoingBoing post about the Bollywood Freaks mashup "Don't Stop 'til You Get to Bollywood," BoingBoing reader Mike says:

This was only a very slightly re-tweaked version of a tune from an early 1980s Bollywood soundtrack, as sung by the well-known Indian singer Usha Uthup. (The tune's original title is "Chhupke Kaun Aya".) The Usha Uthup version has just been re-released on CD in the UK, as part of a 2CD mix set called "The Trip", mixed by Tom Middleton.

But you ain't heard nothing yet! Usha's greatest work, which dates from the same era, is the utterly INSANE "One Two Cha Cha Cha". (This also quotes from a classic disco hit.) This track is available on a 1997 compilation called "In Flight Entertainment Vol.2" - and also as an MP3 on my blog for the next week or two.

Link to the blog hosting an MP3 download of "Cha Cha Cha." Oh yeah.

60 Minutes: Google, Battelle, and
Bollywood

60 Minutes: Google, Battelle, and
Bollywood 01/02/2005 11:06 PM
Xeni Jardin: Well -- not all together in the same story, though that might have been even more interesting.

The CBS television program 60 Minutes featured a lengthy segment on Google this evening which included astute comment from John Battelle, who moonlights as BoingBoing's Reuben Kincaid when he's not writing books, building empires, and tracking search tech trends here. Snip from the transcript:

"If anybody got a Porsche or a Ferrari right now at Google, they’d probably be drummed out of the company," observes John Battelle, an author and entrepreneur who has been following Silicon Valley companies for 20 years. He says, "Google has a brand image to maintain. And their image is they’re all about innovation and they’re all about the Internet, and they’re all about trust. They’re not about selling out. They’re not about getting rich quick. So you’ve got a culture like that; I think if anyone were to buy, you know, a new Mercedes convertible and drive around with the stereo blaring, and miss work a couple days because they’re rich now, that would not be acceptable behavior at Google.

"But trust me," he adds. "There’s a Mercedes convertible in every one of their heads. There is. And it will…come out. Over time, it will come out."

The show also included a killer piece on Indian film star and hyperbolic superbeauty Aishwarya Rai. Snip:

The reason Bollywood films have such universal appeal is because they’re squeaky-clean. There are no sex scenes, not even kissing. Every time you think someone’s going to do it, they'll burst into song instead. "I'd assume that's really a reflection of our society," Rai says, when asked to explain the films' modesty. "Of course people kiss and of course people have a very healthy love life. This is the land of the Kama Sutra. But nevertheless, in our society you don't really see people around the street corner kissing or being extremely, overtly, physically demonstrative publicly. They do it privately but not publicly."

Link to Google piece with BoingBoing's own John Battelle, and Link to seg on Aishwarya Rai.

Badass Bollywood dance-off Saturday in
San Francisco

Badass Bollywood dance-off Saturday in
San Francisco 02/05/2005 09:25 PM
Xeni Jardin: Terrific SF Chronicle article about a Bollywood dance competition taking place in San Francisco tomorrow. Snip:

Growing up in Calcutta, I rarely watched Hindi films. Going to the movies usually meant viewing English-language evergreens like "Born Free" and "Willie Wonka," or hoary literary classics with dialogue in my native Bengali. Bollywood was a risqué world with money but little class where the vamps flashed thigh and cleavage and the heroes kept their shirts unbuttoned. At my school, we had regular "hair check" days, at which school staff made sure our locks were not curling over our collars like some "two-bit Bombay film star." We knew Bollywood produced more films than Hollywood, and millions of Indians queued up on opening weekend to buy tickets on the black market, but I was taught to look down my nose at the genre's kitschy excess.

Now, to my surprise, Bollywood is entering the American mainstream, thanks to movies such as Mira Nair's art-house hit "Monsoon Wedding" and the Bollywood-inspired pageantry of "Moulin Rouge." Indian beauty queen Aishwarya Rai recently appeared on "60 Minutes," and rapper Dr. Dre was slapped with a lawsuit for mixing a snatch of an old Hindi song into his single "Addictive." It's also hit academia in media-studies courses on campuses from UC Berkeley to MIT.

Link (Thanks, Brian "Badass" Lam!).

Update: Boing Boing reader Kevin H points out that the author of this SF Chron story appears to have made a minor error:

Dr. Dre didn't have a single called "Addictive". The single was for Truth Hurts, and it featured a blistering Rakim rap. Truth Hurts is an artist on Dre's label Aftermath Records. DJ Quik produced the single. It drips with hotness.

Bollywood ad takeover, part three:
Peugot ad, and TV ad index

Bollywood ad takeover, part three:
Peugot ad, and TV ad index 05/31/2004 09:59 AM
BoingBoing reader Manish Vij points us to his list of Bollywood-themed TV advertisements for western products, which includes a popular ad for Peugot. Manish's website includes terrific liner notes -- for instance, pointers on where to download copies of songs you hear in the ads.
Link to Peugot ad, and alternate link; Link to "TV Satires on India"; Previous BoingBoing posts on Bollywood spoof ads: 1, 2

More Sexy Adult Movies out in the
Internet from Bollywood

More Sexy Adult Movies out in the
Internet from Bollywood 04/02/2005 07:24 AM
India Daily Apr 2 2005 11:00AM GMT

Bollywood spoof ads, continued: mullet
pseudo-history

Bollywood spoof ads, continued: mullet
pseudo-history 05/31/2004 01:05 AM
BoingBoing reader Chris points us to this blast from the online past:

"Another corporate '70s Bollywood spoof, this time by Absolut Vodka. ~10 minute film, made in 2002, filmed in India. It's a Bollywood pseudohistory of the mullet. Entertaining enough story (a little long...) - but really well-crafted, with awesome songs and dancing. Low-level product placement - no actual bottles or mention of vodka - but the familiar Absolut shape makes subtle appearances."

The film's hilarious, but -- OMGWTF! Do my own eyes betray me? Look closely at the faux promo poster screengrabbed at left. Is the male lead in Absolut Mulit not wearing a shirt with the exact same pink vomit print that Vivek Oberoi wears in the aforementioned Vanilla Coke Bollywood ad? Perhaps this is a secret, ironic reference to pink vomit couture featured in a real Bollywood film -- and I'm not enough of an Indian cinema buff to get the joke. If any intrepid BoingBoing readers know the answer, do tell.
Link to Absolut Mulit (Flash required), more background on the making of the 12-minute short in thi s 2003 issue of Fast Company magazine (scroll down to bottom of page).i>

India's Bollywood offers Internet film
downloads

India's Bollywood offers Internet film
downloads 12/23/2003 05:47 PM
ABC Online Dec 23 2003 4:30PM ET

Phonecams = kiss of death to Bollywood
stars' privacy?

Phonecams = kiss of death to Bollywood
stars' privacy? 12/22/2004 01:29 AM
Xeni Jardin: BoingBoing reader Kevin Slavin says,

I just got back from Mumbai yesterday, and it's true about the scale of the Baazee uproar -- it's front page full-width headlines, first the scandal, then the arrest, then the arrest scandal, etc.

Worth noting is the echo to it, also front pages over there -- a phonecam snap of some Bollywood celebs kissing in public. It provoked a series of suprisingly fierce newspaper debates over Public Displays of Affection in India overall.

There's a funny logic behind that, considering that almost no one saw the event itself, and that the real Public is the viewers of the news networks which broadcasted the image. The distributed image was considered the documentation of public-ness, rather than a further expression of it.

Link< /a> to "Why the phone camera may be kiss of death to secret lives for Bollywood stars: A snatched image breaks a taboo and horrifies India's screen giants" in the Times Online (UK)

Bollywood News, India: I searched for
nerds on Internet: Tusshar (INTERVIEW)

Bollywood News, India: I searched for
nerds on Internet: Tusshar (INTERVIEW) 06/16/2004 05:12 AM
Keralanext.com - Wed Jun 16, 07:51 am GMT

Is Kazaa Over?

Is Kazaa Over? 06/30/2004 06:01 PM
As someone who has never used Kazaa, I have no idea how its use has changed over time, but apparently, more and more users are bailing out. They're fed up with the adware, the lawsuits (which often target Kazaa users) and all the bogus files. Of course, while that might sound like wonderful news for the recording industry, it's actually much worse. Users aren't giving up on file sharing, they're just switching to other offerings that include more useful features and less annoying crap (gee, what a surprise). The article points out that the various lawsuits against Kazaa owner Sharman appear to be taking their toll as the product has been unable to keep up. However, this whole thing points to a much more important fact: users are going to keep migrating to better products that are further underground. Each time the recording industry thinks they're declaring victory, they're just making their own job harder -- and I don't just mean the job of tracking down and suing file sharing individuals. They're making it increasingly difficult to set up a system that actually embraces file sharing, while still giving them the ability to make money. They could still do it, but they've given no indication that they intend to go down that path. Instead, they seem to enjoy making things worse for themselves, because that lets them keep complaining.

Bye, Bye Kazaa!

Bye, Bye Kazaa! 07/13/2004 11:48 PM
With innovations like eDonkey, SoulSeek, and now with BitTorrent, does Kazaa really even matter anymore? In this article, there is speculation that many of Kazaa’s users are simply logging off completely. Not because they want to buy their music, but they are simply opting for different alternatives instead.

Is Kazaa Really Centralized?

Is Kazaa Really Centralized? 02/12/2004 02:44 AM
While many have been following the story about the music police raiding Sharman/Kazaa's office, one competitor thinks it's a good thing. Streamline, the makers of the Morpheus file sharing application, has a long history with Kazaa - as they used to license the same technology until they were accused of not paying their bills and were shut off. So, clearly, they are a bit biased against Kazaa, but they're bringing up a very important point. The whole point of having a truly distributed file sharing network is that it can't be shut down, even if you shut down the folks who released the software. Yet, Morpheus was shut down two years ago which made many people questio n how this was possible. Over time, these questions have faded, but the folks behind Morpheus are raising the question again and saying that Ka zaa is really centralized - and have been hiding behind their odd corporate structure to hide this fact for the last couple years. That would be quite a revelation, and would seriously damage Kazaa's legal standing. Thus, the folks behind Morpheus are hoping that the questionable raid on Kazaa's offices will establish this for certain. It appears that, once again, there isn't much harmony in the file sharing world.

Does Kazaa matter?

Does Kazaa matter? 06/30/2004 02:49 PM
The top file-swapping network is facing lawsuits, junk downloads and strong rivals. Some say it's past its prime.

Senate goes after Kazaa

Senate goes after Kazaa 06/23/2004 05:31 PM
USA Today Jun 23 2004 9:46PM GMT

KaZaA Lite Plus v1.0

KaZaA Lite Plus v1.0 05/07/2004 07:22 PM
KaZaA Lite Plus is an open source file sharing client that searches the fast track network which KaZaA and Grokster run on, AND also searches Gnutella2 network, so there are a lot more files than KaZaA Media Desktop, Grokster, and Morpheus. [Freeware 3.34 MB]

SMS Query: KaZaA Software

SMS Query: KaZaA Software 04/15/2004 08:57 PM

KaZaA blocks copycat

KaZaA blocks copycat 12/09/2003 07:27 PM
Earlier this year it forced Google to take down links to the modified version of KaZaA Lite and in November it announced a campaign with content experts Altnet ...

Kazaa has shut down Kazaalight

Kazaa has shut down Kazaalight 12/09/2003 05:05 AM
Zeropaid

zeropaid.com/news/articles/auto/12052003h.php
track this site | 4 links

Grok Description matches for Kazaa says hello to digital Bollywood
GrokA matches for Kazaa says hello to digital Bollywood

Kazaa says hello to digital Bollywood

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