BEST IN THE BEST: April 2015

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Mary Gordon (born Mary Gilmour, 16 May 1882 in Glasgow, Scotland – 23 August 1963 in Pasadena, California) was a Scottish actress, long in the United States, who specialized in housekeepers and mothers, most notably the landlady Mrs. Hudson in the Sherlock Holmes series of movies of the 1930s and 1940s. She would appear in nearly 300 films between 1925 and 1950.

She was born Mary Gilmour, the fifth of seven children of Glasgow wire weaver Robert Gilmour and his wife Mary. She worked as a dressmaker before finding work on the stage. Joining a company bound for an American tour, she came to the U.S. in her twenties, apparently making a few appearances on Broadway in small roles, but primarily touring in stock companies.

With her mother and daughter (also named Mary), she arrived in Los Angeles in the mid-1920s and began playing variations on the roles she would spend her career on. She became friends with John Ford while making Hangman's House in 1928 and made seven more films for him. In 1939, she took on her best-remembered role as Sherlock Holmes' landlady and played the role in ten films and numerous radio plays. She was a charter member of the Hollywood Canteen, entertaining servicemen throughout the Second World War. On the radio show Those We Love, she played the regular role of Mrs. Emmett.

She entered retirement just as television reshaped the entertainment industry, making only a single appearance in that medium. Very active in the Daughters of Scotia auxiliary of the Order of Scottish Clans, she lived out her final years in Pasadena, California with her daughter and grandson. She died after a long illness on August 23, 1963.

Monday 13 April 2015

Nargis Fakhri - American model and actress

Nargis Fakhri (born 20 October 1979) is an American model and actress who works mainly in Bollywood films. She has appeared on America's Next Top Model and made her acting debut with the 2011 film Rockstar. She gained further success for her roles in Madras Cafe (2013) and Main Tera Hero(2014.

Fakhri made her Bollywood film debut playing the female lead in Imtiaz Ali's musical romantic drama Rockstar in 2011. Film critic Taran Adarsh wrote, "Nargis is a stunner as far as looks are concerned, but isn't persuasive in poignant moments", however, he praised her on-screen chemistry with co-star Ranbir Kapoor

She starred opposite John Abraham in Shoojit Sircar's political thriller Madras Cafe (2013). Film critic Saibal Chatterjee said Fakhri "strikes the right notes", whereas Rajeev Masand called her "pleasantly competent". Later that year, she made a special appearance in the action comedy Phata Poster Nikhla Hero to perform the item number "Dhating Naach" with the film's lead actor Shahid Kapoor. Taran Adarsh commented saying Fakhri "sizzles in the dance number, matching steps with Shahid"

In 2014, Fakhri appeared alongside Varun Dhawan and Ileana D'Cruz in David Dhawan's comedy Main Tera Hero. The film was a financial success, but received mixed reviews from critics. For her performance in the film, Rohit Khilnani said that Fakhri "is not bad" and that "she fits well in this masala comedy and doesn't disappoint" Taran Adarsh however disagreed, and said though she "looks great", she needs to "polish her acting skills". The same year, Fakhri performed with Salman Khan in the item number "Yaar Na Miley" which featured in the film Kick. In a review, The Times Of India stated that she "makes the proceedings hotter with her dance moves"

As of December 2014, Fakhri is scheduled to appear in Paul Feig's action comedy Spy

Sunday 12 April 2015

Bobby Simha, Nikki Galrani to play lead in 'Ko' sequel

The sequel to 2011 Tamil blockbuster Ko, which was helmed by K.V. Anand, has been announced with an all new team of actors. National Award-winning actor Bobby Simha will play the lead in the sequel.Ko 2 will be directed by debutant Sharath, and will feature Nikki Galrani as the female lead.

"I had plans to make the sequel for a while now but bringing together the old cast was not possible. Recently, when I heard a script I felt it could be made as the sequel to Ko," film's producer Elred Kumar told IANS.The film will also feature Prakash Raj in an important role.The regular shooting is expected to start shortly.

Padmapriya Janakiraman - Indian film actress and model.

Padmapriya Janakiraman simply credited as Padmapriya, is an Indian film actress and model. A classical bharatanatyam dancer,Padmapriya made her acting debut in the Telugu-language film Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi (2003), following which she appeared in a number of Malayalam and Tamil-language films alongside leading actors. In a span of 5 years, she has appeared in nearly 30 films in Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil,Telugu, Kannada and Hindi and has received several major South Indian awards. She is probably best known for her critically acclaimed performances in the Malayalam-language films Kaazhcha, Karutha Pakshikal, Pazhassi Rajaand the Tamil-language films Thavamai Thavamirundhu and Mirugam

.Padmapriya made her acting debut in the 2003 Telugu film Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi, a remake of the Tamil film Kasi, which itself was a remake of the Malayalam film Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum. She played the role of a sexually exploited poor sister of a blind man in the film. Padmapriya says, she accepted this offer "for the sake of friendship" This made possible her entry into the Malayalam film industry in the same year, starring in the film Kaazhcha alongside superstar Mammootty. For her portrayal of a mother of a young girl, who struggles to accommodate another child, a victim of theGujarat earthquake, she received rave reviews and the Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year

Currently she is working on half-a-dozen films, which include her Hindi debut venture Striker opposite Siddharth Narayan,^]her Kannada debut film Thamassu alongside Shivrajkumar, a cowboy-based film Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam in Tamil, Kutty Shranku with Mammootty once again in Malayalam. In 2010, she enacted the role of a bar owner in Striker, following which she appear as a human rights activist in Thamassu and as an army officer's daughter in Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam. She played a vital role in Naayika, winning critical praise for her performance. NDTV wrote that her "beauty and acting skills helped in portraying the role to perfection and 'young Gracy' ends as the saving 'grace' of the film".She has acted in some advertisements

SANUSHA

Sanusha, also known as "Baby Sanusha", is an Indian film actress. She started her acting career as a child in Malayalam films and went on to appear in television serials.Sanusha was born to Santhosh and Usha in Nileshwaram, state of Kerala,India. She has one younger brother Sanoop Santhosh, who is a child artist, known for his acting in Philips and the Monkey Pen. She hails from Nileshwaram, Kasargod District, Kerala, she has studied at Sreepuram School, Kannur.

After being popular in TV serials, Sanusha started her film career in 2000 at the age of 5 with the movie Dada Saheb. She has since played in Nalai Namathey, Renigunta, Nandi, "Bangaram" and Eththan.

Sanusha won a Special Jury Mention at the 2013 Kerala State Film Awards for Zachariayude Garbhinikal