Hollywood Boulevard

The traffic in Connaught Place went haywire but the searchlights at the American Center rose high,criss-crossing each other as movie buffs trooped in on the red carpet for the premiere of Guy Ritchie’s latest offering,Sherlock Holmes. A part of the lawn was converted into a paparazzi corner,each pass-holder — among them writer William Dalrymple and his family — stood in front of a

banner and faced the shutterbugs; some preened,some looked embarrassed but everybody had a good time. That’s the idea behind Hollywood Nights,an initiative by the American Center and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). “The American Center,in agreement with the MPAA,will screen 16 to 20 popular Hollywood films this year. These will premiere at the Center’s renovated auditorium earlier than the regular Friday release at the theatres,” says Michael Pelletier,Minister Counsellor,Public Affairs. The movies will be chosen by the MPAA,according to the films being released this year by the studios affiliated to them. “Hollywood studios are increasingly interested in the Indian market and in Indian cinema today. We opened our office in Mumbai last year and this is another way for Hollywood to reach out to cinema lovers in Delhi,” says Rajiv Dalal,Director,MPAA India.

While the first Hollywood Night was by invitation only,the subsequent movie nights will be open to the public,but in a limited capacity.

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