Avril Lavigne Concert Deemed ‘Too Sexy’ Now Back on in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —  Malaysian authorities have reversed their decision to cancel a concert by Canadian pop-rock star Avril Lavigne, saying Saturday that she can perform next week despite complaints her act is “too sexy.”

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry sparked an outcry among music fans when it decided earlier this week not to permit Lavigne’s show. The ministry said then that the show was unsuitable for Malaysian culture and could not be held on Aug. 29, two days ahead of independence day, because it might disrupt patriotic celebrations.

The ministry’s secretary-general, Muzahet Masruri, said Saturday that authorities decided after talks with the concert organizers that Lavigne “can do the show” next week, even though the government would still have preferred a different date.

Muzahet declined to give a specific reason for the decision, but he said organizers told the government that they had already sold thousands of tickets and that the cancellation could hurt tourism.

The youth wing of a fundamentalist opposition group, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, has called for the show to be canceled, saying Lavigne’s performances were “considered too sexy” for this Muslim-majority nation. But officials denied the party influenced their decisions.

The 23-year-old Lavigne, whose hits include “Complicated” and “Girlfriend,” is planning to launch her monthlong Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur.

The show’s promoter, Galaxy Group, began advertising the Grammy-nominated singer’s concert this month, even though it had yet to obtain a government permit, which is mandatory for all foreign music shows. Galaxy officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Saturday.

The flap over Lavigne’s concert is the latest in a string of troubles confronting foreign artists seeking to perform here. Last year, R&B singer Beyonce moved her show from Malaysia to Indonesia, and Christina Aguilera skipped the country on an Asian tour after a controversy erupted over a dress code for foreign artists.

Malaysia requires all performers to wear clothes without obscene or drug-related images and to be covered from the chest to the knees. They must also refrain from jumping, shouting, hugging and kissing on stage.

Still, conservative Muslims often protest against Western and even Malaysian music shows that they consider inappropriate.

The Malaysian organizer of a Pussycat Dolls concert in 2006 was fined $2,857 after the U.S. girl group was accused of flouting decency regulations.

From : http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,409401,00.html

Singh is Kinng – Movie Review

Singh is King (directed and written by Anees Bazmee) isn’t copied, but it has to be inspired by something, right? This one was apparently inspired by a tag line read by Akshay Kumar at the back of a truck – Singh is King! And viola! A film was born. Considering that we have many such lines at the back of trucks, rickshaws and taxis, you can imagine the fodder Bollywood script writers have to chew on. In fact it got me wondering whether Bazmee, who also directed the hit No Entry, got his idea from this rickshaw…

Script writers are also often helped along by pre-decided venues (not to mention songs). In Singh is Kinng the venues chosen were Egypt and Australia. The film is almost entirely shot in these two countries

What’s it about? (no spoilers)
The film is about a group of friends (mostly Sikhs) from a village in Punjab. Some have made it big (in Australia) while others are at the village doing nothing much with their lives. Akshay Kumar plays a rustic character at this village and his character is “Happy”, both in name and spirit. The successful munda is in Australia and is called Lucky (played by Sony Sood) but as we find out he isn’t very lucky, although he is King (of the underworld), and nor is he happy. In fact Happy isn’t lucky to have around either, although he does become King. If that doesn’t make sense, it isn’t meant to. There is no attempt at realism in the film and that results in some ludicrous situations which provide the comedy. Some hilarious moments there.
       This movie portrays Sikh culture, their bravery and their helpful and kind nature. Although this is showcased in the form of a comedy I don’t think it denigrates Sikhs in anyway. The movie was shown to some religious authorities before its release and some scenes re-shot. We don’t know which parts were re-shot but perhaps it was the scene where Happy Singh explains why he had to partially shave off his beard. Well, not everything that was demanded was re-shot and some people still have objections to the film. As a non-Sikh, but someone who has known Sikhs since childhood, I think the film is a superficial portrayal of Sikh culture, but well, it wasn’t meant to be anything else. It’s a comedy after all. But I think for those who don’t know Sikhs, it will send a positive message.
In fact there were positive messages throughout the film. Underneath the ridiculousness of the convoluted story, there is a strong message about Good vs. Evil.

The music is alright but unfortunately in the cinema hall we saw it in (PVR) the audio was on too loud. At times we had to put our fingers in our ears…I think cinema theatres in India are going to make a lot of people go deaf.

Characters and actors
There is a plethora of characters in this movie, but ofcourse Akshay Kumar is the hero. He is certainly not one my favourite actors, but he does alright as a comic. It is also difficult to deny his screen presence and charisma. Ditto Katrina Kaif. If she had nothing much to do in this film but play the pretty (though spirited) girl-friend Sonia, it wasn’t a surprise. Om Puri, who plays Rangeela, a childhood friend of Happy’s, does a good job, but Ranvir Shorey has a much smaller role which as usual he does justice to.

There are two other women in this movie: Julie, played by Neha Dhupia and the Rose Lady by Kirron Kher. It was refreshing to see Julie not portrayed as a moll, but as one of the “gang” members. She is as trigger happy as any of the boys. Kher was resplendent in her overacting.

Is the movie really all that funny?
Well, the situations are ludicrous enough to be funny although the audience didn’t really go ballistic with laughter, except once. It was nice to see that there were no sexist jokes in the movie! Perhaps that was why I found this comedy very relaxing. Overall, I found the audience enjoying the movie and people were actually reluctant to get up when the movie ended!

So is it worth a see?
I see a movie from the entertainment point of view, not a critic’s point of view, although I am critical if one reads between the lines. And when it comes to entertainment, a lot depends on your own preferences (for genre), and also whether you are able to tolerate the main actors in the movie, or whether you have a tight schedule, whether you are a student and prefer to save the theatre experience for special movies, or whether you like to see movies at all. This certainly isn’t one of those special movies that one saves to see in a theater…it’s okay for time-pass.

(The picture of the rickshaw is copyrighted to me (taken in Agra) and the second is a movie poster)