RELIANCE BIG PICTURES BRINGS INDIAN CINEMA ROYALTY TO LONDON FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF ‘RAAVAN’

The Red Carpet was rolled out to welcome Indian cinema royalty and off-screen couple, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, as they brought the height of glamour to London’s cultural hotspot, BFI, Southbank, London SE1 on Wednesday 16^th June 2010 at the World Premiere of ‘Raavan’, a darkly intense film that invites audiences into a new world order.

The stars were honoured by a fanfare of cheers from the multitudes of fans and media that had gathered for the momentous event.   India’s most celebrated couple were joined at the action-packed premiere by fellow cast and crew members including the undisputed superstar of South Indian cinema, Vikram, and India’s most acclaimed director, Mani Ratnam.

Fellow celebrities, VIP’s and dignitaries who attended the event included: Indian cinema’s most revered actor Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya Bachchan; fellow A-list international star, Shah Rukh Khan; Mayor of London's Director for Transport Policy Kulveer Ranger; film director Gurinder Chadha; actors, Laila Rouass and Sadie Pickering; and musician Rishi Rich.  

Following the excitement and action on the Red Carpet, the stars and leading crew members of the film took centre stage before the full house, to welcome guests and introduce the film. The glitzy event was followed by an after-party at exclusive eaterie and celebrity haunt, Oxo Tower Wharf, Waterloo, indulging guests with a bespoke menu of cocktails and canapés.  

Drenched with atmosphere, emotion and gripping tension, ‘Raavan’ is a darkly intense, cinematic masterpiece that will draw audiences into the innermost depths of the human psyche to test their beliefs, convictions and emotions. The film wowed guests and audiences at the star-studded premiere, who left the venue spellbound.  

Directed by Mani Ratnam (‘Dil Se’, ‘Bombay’), who is to be honoured with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award 2010 at the 67^th Venice International Film Festival, ‘Raavan’s’ stellar cast is spearheaded by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (‘Bride and Prejudice’) and Abhishek Bachchan (‘Guru’, ‘Paa’) who perform their most challenging roles to date.

They unite on screen in avatars never before seen by cinemagoers and are joined by the undisputed superstar of South Indian cinema Vikram, alongside supporting talent, Govinda, Ravi Kishan and Priyamani.  

‘Raavan’s’ hypnotizing visuals by multi-award winning cinematographers Santosh Sivan and V. Manikandan are perfectly combined with a haunting soundtrack from multi Academy Award Winner, A.R. Rahman (‘Slumdog Millionaire’). The lyrics have been penned by Indian poet, lyricist and script writer Gulzar, a five times National Award Winner and the recipient of 17 Filmfare Awards.  

Synopsis:

Unconventional in equal but harmonized measures, police inspector ‘Dev’ (Vikram) and feisty classical dancer ‘Ragini’ (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) relocate to Lal Maati, a remote town in Northern India, after marrying.

On arrival, they discover that the law of the land is firmly grasped in the hands of ‘Beera Munda’ (Abhishek Bachchan), a ruthless tribal who has shifted the power equation in the region from the ruling to the have-nots. Dev knows that the key to restoring order in Lal Maati is to vanquish Beera and in one fell swoop manages to create carnage in Beera’s world, thus setting in motion a chain of events which will claim lives and change fortunes.

An injured but enraged Beera now drags both Dev and Ragini into battle through the deepest ravines of the jungle and a labyrinth of human survival.

The journey ahead tests the very core of their existence as the lines between good and evil, between Dev and Beera, between Ram and Raavan become ever blurred.  ‘Raavan’ is released by Reliance BIG Pictures in cinemas worldwide on Friday 18^th June 2010. 

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