Coming soon

Hey everybody, prepare yourself for another MuggleIndia Xclusive! This time, I have the interview of Daniel Radcliffe that aired on Pogo last year and a month ago this year about Order of the Phoenix.
Keep checking!

By the way, I've also created a new blog named 'The Current Buzz'. This blog will post about everything going around the world- Movies, Music, Computers, TV, Politics, Gadgets, Gossips, Rumors... phew!
Visit it here.

P.S. A Very Merry Christmas!

Xclusive- Rupert and Emma's Pogo interview

Hey guys, I've something special for you here. An old video (one year old), which was re-broadcasted on Pogo on 16th November, is here for your watching experience.
In this interview, Rupert talks about similarities between him and Ron and he also talks in Hindi.
Emma talks about Hermione's dressing sense and other things too.

Watch it here exclusively on MuggleIndia blog. (Sorry for bad quality)

Another Half-Blood Prince Trailer

WB has recently released a new trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is due to release in July next year. It shows several new scenes, including attack on Millennium Bridge, some new memories, Hermione crying and Harry and Ginny about to kiss.

Watch here :

Diwali Dhamka!!

Hey guys there is a good news for you. A new International Trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is just leaked.

This new trailer shows some exciting new footage from the upcoming Harry Potter film. The trailer is just above 1.5 min

Win trip to UK

Pogo has started a new contest in which you have to answer some questions and you win a trip to Kingdom (mostly Scotland) to visit filming locations of Harry Potter movies. 10 lucky winners will also win iPod shuffle. For more details, click here.

More details will come soon. Keep watching Pogo.

Order of the Phoenix on November 16th

Hey guys, it is confirmed that Pogo is going to air Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (in Hindi dub) on Sunday, November 16th. So now at least there is something to wait for in November.

Pogo is also going to air Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire in these 30 days.

Keep watching Pogo and enjoy!

Dark Knight Climbing the box-office stairs

Dark Knight has broke the record of Sorcerer's Stone and it is now currently the fourth highest grossing film of all time worldwide. Sorcerer's Stone film is now on fifth spot and there are only two Harry Potter movies in top 10 worldwide chart (SOS and OOTP).

As I predicted in previous post, the Dark Knight has potential for breaking Titanic's record.
Anyway, Warner Bros. is having a blast.

'Mega Magic Express'

Pogo, a Tuner International Channel under Time Warner (I wrote all this to tell you that Pogo is directly linked to Warner Bros.) is all set to air Harry Potter films (Hindi-dubbed) this Diwali season.
There is a big chance that Order of the Phoenix will be also broadcasted. 'Mega Magic Express' is going to air this mid-October.

Keep watching Pogo!

WB lost their case

Delhi High Court, yesterday have decided that there is no confustion between Harry Potter and Hari Puttar among the audience, so they have closed WB's case against Mirchi Movies, makers of the film Hari Puttar. Hari Puttar is going to release this week all over India without any modification in title.

Bad luck, WB!

Dark Knight breaks OOTP's record

The Dark Knight, a Warner Bros. film, has broken the record of 6th highest grossing film of all time (worldwide). It was previously held by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. OOTP enjoyed this record for more than one year.


Warner Bros. is having a blast. If TDK continues to earn money like this, soon it will be the highest grossing film of all time (worldwide). But who cares about TDK (but it was a great movie).

New Banner

Hi folks, here is a new banner for MuggleIndia Blog. I hope you all will like it.
Please write something in comments. You all are welcome to write in comments and discuss about Harry Potter or about this blog. I hope you will start writing.

Take Care! :)

EA delays HBP game

As expected, Electronic Arts, the makers of Harry Potter games, have delayed the game until summer 09. No exact date is announced (it will probably release in late June 2009).
So, enjoy your Christmas with no Harry Potter :-)

Report on the Cave Scene

Here is another report from Chicago test screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due to release next year.

Report has detailed description on the Cave scene, Inferi and the action in Astronomy Tower.
Since it is big spoiler, please do not read this if you don't want to spoil your next year.
<<< I am so sorry everyone, in my haste to write my review I completely forgot the cave scene! So here it is-

Dumbledore meets Harry at the top of the Astronomy tower and they apparate to outside the cave. As they are leaving Harry is surprised that that they can apparate from within the Hogwarts grounds, and Dumbledore says something along the lines of “That’s the beauty of being headmaster.”

The scene they apparate to, despite being slightly unfinished was nonetheless absolutely breathtaking. Cliffs and huge waves dominate the scene. Dumbledore finds their way to the anti-chamber and slits his hand (for you star trek fans – he does it in a Klingon way – straight across the inside of his hand). The wall crumbles away and Dumbledore explains to Harry that Voldemort would have set up defenses around the Horcrux.

The cave is very different than what I had pictured and than all the fan art I have seen, but still a chilling and amazing sight. It reminded me a bit of a normal cave mixed with the ice crystal place Superman goes to in one of his movies. The whole cave is a vast formation of huge crystals, jagged and rough, jutting out from the ceiling walls and floor.

They make their way to the water and Dumbledore cautions Harry not to touch it and he starts to raise the boat with magic. Then he has Harry reel it in with a very heavy long chain.

The island is a formation of crystals as is the basin. Now the only really cheesy and unspectacular thing about this whole scene is that they use a large white clam shell partially imbedded in a small rock to scoop up the potion. In my opinion it looked rather silly. Dumbledore tell Harry to force him to drink the potion and Gambon once again does a slightly better than usual job being forced to drink the potion.

At one point towards the end you can very softly hear Dumbledore mumble something like “please don’t hurt them, it’s all my fault.” But it was almost inaudible and I doubt anyone who has not read the book caught the line at all. Then after the last scoop is drunk, Gambon kind of goes back to his rather poor, unresearched acting and says with far too much strength. “Harry, Water.”

But first Harry goes back to the Basin and recovers the locket and in the background we can hear Dumbledore saying “Harry, water” getting slightly weaker each time he says it. Harry attempts to fill the basin with water the aguamenti charm, but can not get the scoop the water up with that silly shell. After trying several times and Dumbledore starting to collapse he goes to the lake to fill it there.

Suddenly the light that was emanating from the island with the basin goes out, and Harry lights his wand (most unfortunately with the non-existent spell luminous-maximus, or whatever it was he used in the beginning of the third movie), and slowly reaches down to scoop up the lake water. The moment he touches it a hand reaches out and grabs Harry’s wrist. The whole audience jumped in fear. Harry tries to fend off the inferi with all the spells we hear him try in the books. But in the end he is pulled down into the water.

Before I go on I must say the Inferi scene was one of the most spectacular of this movie. They looked a bit like the newer version of the Dementor, but much more human shaped and brownish. I fear I am not describing them well, because they were truly a scary site to see. The camera angles captured the scene of Harry trying hopelessly to defend himself and Dumbledore from them as they clambered onto the island from all different angles and the sheer number of them eventually overwhelms Harry and he is pulled down deep into the lake.

While Harry is underwater the view we have is from below him looking up and we can see the whole island from below as well. Suddenly the Inferi holding Harry releases him and he swims up to a surface covered in ferocious flame. The “ring of fire” Dumbledore conjures is an unbelievable sight, far more than I think anyone pictured in the books, but incredibly spectacular. Harry and Dumbledore climb back in the boat and the scene then cuts to Harry helping Dumbledore through the cave.

The every so anticipated lines of (I am paraphrasing) “Don’t worry sir, I’ll get us back” and Dumbledore replying “I am not worried, I am with you” are said. Executed very well by Radcliffe though rather poorly in my opinion by Gambon who clearly does not know the significant emotional value we fans know those lines have.

They then apparate back to the top of the astronomy tower. There is no dark mark in the sky. But as Dumbledore says he needs Severus not Madame Pomfrey they hear a commotion and Dumbledore orders Harry to go and hide and not come out or interfere. A command the book Harry would never have followed, but that the movie Harry would obey. Harry goes underneath the wooden floor of the tower where Dumbledore is standing where he can see everything through large gaps between the wood slates. Draco arrives and Tom does a brilliant job as a boy trying to be fierce and terrified at the same time. Some lines from the book are rather butchered by Dumbledore saying things like “Draco, you are not an assassin.” Then the Death Eaters arrive all in masks except Bellatrix and Greyback. Bellatrix urges Draco to do it though his wand lowers slightly.

Meanwhile under the floor Harry who is watching terrified with his wand at the ready is sneaked up on by Snape, whose wand is also out and puts his finger to his lips to make sure Harry stays quiet. My description does not quite capture that scene well enough, but I was surprised to find my heart ripping, perhaps because I knew what was going to happen when Snape appeared there. Snape quietly appears above, and Dumbledore, with far too much strength says “Severus Please.”

And Snape does the Avada Kadavra, and Bellatrix is ecstatic. The scene with Dumbledore being lifted into the air was unfortunately unfinished because we see him up in the air and then apparently falling down the side of the tower, but there was no motion yet. He is stationary in both scenes. I am sure more special effects will be added later. Then Bellatrix casts the Dark Mark (another amazing updated special effect with a black smoke skull and snake tongue). The Deatheaters all run out, destroying a bit of the castle in a euphoric tantrum along the way. There is no battle inside Hogwarts and the only one to chase them is Harry.

There was no Amycus or Alecto anywhere I could see. Oh, and there is no Rosmerta either. Forgot to mention that before.

Anyway, the Deatheaters set Hagrid’s hut on fire and the scene I already described happens between Harry and Snape. Harry then returns to find the whole school gathered around Dumbledore’s body, McGonagall in the front completely stunned and silent. Harry kneels down at Dumbledore’s side, brushes a hair out of his face and finds the locket, but does not open it. Clutching the locket He starts to cry and Ginny goes and holds him also crying. Then following McGonagall’s lead, everyone lights there wand (I think they all murmur something in unison but I can’t remember what) and slowly raise them as one in the air. Final shot of that scene is from above with all the lighted wands surrounding the tower, Dumbledore, Harry and Ginny.>>>

Thanks again to TLC.

HBP shown at Chicago

Lucky Chicago folks got a chance of watching a pre-screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince, which is going to release around 10 months from now.
Fans and some other people from movie industry attended this screening, yesterday night.
So, here is a review, which you may be interested in.
Please note that it is a huge spoiler, I haven't read it myself .
Please select the text to read:-

<<<Today I got to see the test screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It took place in Chicago at the AMC River East. It was a secret screening, no one in the audience was supposed to know before hand what they were seeing. I was one of only a small handful who already knew what we would be seeing, but I was sworn to secrecy. It was truly the hardest secret I ever had to keep.

It was not entirely complete, however aside from a few blue screens in the background, and one or two special effects missing, it was barely noticeable.

I am a huge fan of Ginny and Harry so I will start with them. There is a lot more Ginny than ever before. She nearly equaled Ron for screen time. We first see her at the Burrow when Harry arrives outside and the first thing he sees is her reading through the window. Harry Just stands there for a moment, gazing up at her. Although she is dating Dean Thomas she never looks happy with him, except when she is snogging him at The Three Broomsticks. She was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. But the only game we saw was from the Felix Felicis chapter when Ron believes Harry has slipped him the potion. During Christmas at the Burrow, Ginny and Harry wind up on the stairs alone and start to lean into each other to kiss, when the attack on the Burrow interrupts them.

The Burrow does not burn down, but it is surrounded by a ring of fire conjured by Bellatrix. Harry, seeing Bellatrix, runs after her, and Ginny runs after him, right into Greyback. But Harry comes to the rescue and the two of them stand in a very high growing cornfield fending off attacks from the deatheaters. Lupin and Tonks come to the rescue, but that is I believe the last we see of them. There is no Tonks and Lupin relationship and although Tonks’ hair is brown there is no notice taken or any explanation given.

Tom Felton did a fantastic job in this film. Draco character remains true to the book, he even stamps on Harry’s nose. But, sadly, we never get the pleasure of seeing Crabb and Goyle disguised as girls. In fact, they are hardly in this movie. The Sectumsempra scene was really good, even without moaning Myrtle. As Harry and Draco throw spells at each other poor Nigel sits frozen on one of the toilets. Snape runs in shortly and McGonagall is in the doorway after Harry cast the spell (Draco never yells Crucio) and he does do a cure his wounds with a spell that sounds almost like song. But he does not use legilimency on Harry, who runs straight out of the bathroom to McGonagall. In the next scene Hermione and Ginny band together and tell Harry to hide the potions book so not even Harry can find it. Ginny takes Harry to the room of Requirement, and makes him close his eyes while she hides the book. Then she kisses him briefly. By the time he opens his eyes she has vanished.

There was definitely tension between Ron and Hermione. In the very beginning at the Burrow, Ron cleans off a bit of toothpaste from Hermione’s cheek. Later in Slughorn’s class she describes what she smells in the love potion and trails off with “spearmint toothpaste…” Lavender is quite nauseating and although she never gives Ron a necklace she does something equally as vomit worthy, steaming up a window on the Hogwarts Express with her breath and drawing a heart with “R + L” inside it. His relationship ends when he is unconscious and moaning Hermione’s name after being poisoned. He remains confused about why it ended but very relieved.

The kid who played young Tom Riddle was Brilliant. His voice and demeanor raised the hairs on the back of my neck. There is no mention of the Gaunts, but the scene in Slughorn’s office is there. Dumbledore however is truly surprised to learn that Riddle made 7 Horcruxes. It is in that scene that he realizes the ring is a Horcrux. He realizes what it was because when harry handles it briefly he moved his head like Voldemort.

We do get to hear Hagrid and Slughorn singing about Odo the Hero, and Harry is funny and a few lines where true to the book while under the influence of Felix Felicis. There is no Professor Trelawney, or the Dursleys. No Kreacher (no mention of inheriting Grimmauld Place whatsoever) or Dobby, or Bill and Fleur. There are no scenes with the Minister of Magic, and I don’t believe they even mentioned Fudge was sacked (though I may have missed it).

Oh and most sadly of all, no description from Luna about the dangers of the Rotfang Conspiracy. Nor does she commentate the Quidditch match. Luna’s role was very small, but she does have the lion hat and she is the one to find Harry on the train under the invisibility cloak with the help of her Spectrespecs.

Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes was awesome!!! I only wish it were a real store. Unfortunately no U-No-Poo sign, but it was still a sight to see.

The scene with Harry and Snape at the end was the least finished of the movie; the background was mostly screens and lights and occasionally a sound persons head. It was very close to the book, though I thought Snape could have been stronger and angrier, when Harry called him a coward. His some of his last words to Harry are “You may have your mother’s eyes but you are as dim as your father!”

As a huge fan of the books I have found myself getting more and more disappointed by all the changes in the movies and especially in Michael Gambon’s portrayal of Dumbledore who is my favorite character. That being said I was really pleasantly surprised by this movie. Many of the changes were actually entertaining and Gambon has improved enough to be tolerable. It was so much better than Order of the Phoenix. Overall I really enjoyed this movie and can not wait to see it again.>>>

Thanks Rachezee, courtesy of TLC.

WB sues Mirchi Movies for Hari Puttar

Warner Bros. has sued Mirchi Movies, a production house for using the name 'Hari Puttar' for a film. 'Hari Puttar' is a comedy movie which is going to release somewhere in September, which has no relation with Harry Potter.

This movie is NOT a spoof of Harry Potter, and it has no relation with Harry Potter at all. Anyway, since 'Hari Puttar' name is very commonly used in spoofs of Harry Potter, WB has sued the production company.

So, lets see what happens next, will WB win this case or not.

Fans Outraged!

Since WB released a new date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, fans all over the world already went mad. New communities, demanding a 2008 release for the new Harry Potter film, are formed and several petitions are created, within just 2 days of this horrible announcement.

And proof of this is 20000+ signatures of the petition, which I mentioned yesterday. There is still a big way to go, and we definately need to cross 50 thousand mark.

I'm sure, if we can make WB most financial successful studio through Harry Potter, we can also make WB to listen our demands. This is the time to show your power, all Harry Potter fans!

Half-blood Prince, in theatres 2008.... oh sorry 2009

Here is the big, outrageous, most scandalous and of course shocking news... Warner Bros. Pictures has delayed the release for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was expected to release on 21st November 2008 but now the new release date is July 17th, 2009 which means almost 8 months more long to wait and from now, we have to wait 11 months.

It is a very unfair for all Harry Potter fans around the world. And the reason for this is something which makes a little or no sense at all. Editing of Half-Blood prince has already been completed and CGI is about to complete within end of this September. After that WB will put this movie in their vaults under tight security, and release it in July 2009. Isn't its stupid!

For meanwhile, please sign this petition. It hopefully will do something when it will get a million or more signatures.
This is disappointing, very disappointing.

Half-Blood Prince Trailer Online

Hey Guys, the wait is finally over. Check out the original, Official Half-Blood Prince Teaser Trailer:-


The trailer overall focuses only on Young Tom Riddle. Enjoy!

Half-Blood Prince 'Proper' Teaser on this Tuesday

A good news today, WB has given us a new info on HBP trailer- The worldwide 'proper' teaser trailer (generally a teaser trailer is less than a minute), will be released via satellite on 29th July, 2008 (Tuesday). 

Hopefully it will be online soon after it will be released on satellite. And it will be probably also shown with 'The Mummy', which will be relased on 1st August (in US). 

A big, 2 min+ trailer will debut sometime in August-September, most likely with 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' which is going to be released on 15th August. 

Keep checking for new news!

New pics!

WB is not asleep. We've got some brand new pics from Half-Blood Prince. Check 'em out:-

'Maut Ke Tohfe' Released

Its a good new news today. Manjul Publishing house, has released the hindi translation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, today (i.e. June 27). It is named Harry Potter aur Maut Ke Tohfe, as I told you before . With 724 pages, it is available for just 325 INR ( 7.6 USD). Grab it today at your nearest bookstore or you can order it by DD/money order to Manjul Publishing House.

Same text in hindi

आप सबके लिए एक नई और अच्छी ख़बर! मंजुल प्रकाशन द्वारा हैरी पॉटर एंड द डेथली हैलोस को हिन्दी में अनुवादित किया जा चुका है । हैरी पॉटर और मौत के तोहफे नाम की यह नई किताब ७२४ पेजों की है और इसका दाम सिर्फ़ ३२५ रूपये है । तो आज ही अपने नजदीकी बुक-स्टोर जाएँ और इसका मज़ा लें । और हाँ , हाफ-ब्लड प्रिन्स फ़िल्म के बारे में अभी कोई ख़ास ख़बर नही है ।

Tortoise versus Warner Bros.

and Tortoise wins!!!
Warner Bros is being very lazy for revealing some information... atleast some pics of Half-Blood Prince. But they are focusing on the movie which was released an year ago... Order of the Phoenix! They are release some new pics of Order of the Phoenix, instead of Half-Blood Prince. That is insane!
Anyway, a trailer WILL BE out within coming two months, and if it doesn't come, then I'm gonna kill WB!!! (just joking).

Currently there is nothing to post. Some very tit-bits of news are there, but I don't think they are important so I'm just skipping news and posting only some of the important ones.
Sorry for the hiatus. Anyway, enjoy your summer vocations kids!

Pogo will not air Order of the Pheonix

So it is now crystal clear that Pogo is not going to air Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in hindi (dub).
Generally, Pogo airs all Harry Potter movies. but this time Pogo is going to air only Goblet of Fire and some new movies like Krrish and Dragonheart will be going to be broadcasted in May Movie Magic.

The most important reason for not airing Order of the Phoenix is because 'one year gap' between theatrical release and tv premiere. OOTP, as we all know was released in India on June 13th 2007, and Pogo airs Harry Potter movies in May (each year). So, this clears everything about why Pogo is not going to air OOTP.

Anyway, we all have to wait one big year for Pogo to air OOTP. But enjoy May Movie Magic only on Pogo.

Maut Ke Tohfe...!

There is news coming from Manjul India, the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow's Hindi translation will be called 'Harry Potter aur Maut Ke Tohfe'. Well, the title seems very appropciated but a little funny, don't you think so?

Anyway, 'Maut Ke Tohfe' will be out in your nearest book store in mid of 2008 (i.e. May or June). 'Half Blood Prince' translation is also available for just Rs.275
Hindi Translation
आप सब के लिए एक नई ख़बर! हैरी पॉटर और डेथली हैल्लोस की हिन्दी ट्रांसलेशन का नाम है हैरी पॉटर और मौत का तोहफा । यह शीर्षक थोड़ा हास्यक है लेकिन ठीक है। डेथली हैल्लोस की यह ट्रांसलेशन जून यां जुलाई में रीलिज़ होगी । तब तक आप हाफ ब्लड प्रिन्स का मज़ा सिर्फ २७५ रू में उठा सकते हैं ।

Deathly Hallows two be split into two parts

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is going to be split into two parts. The director for these two parts will be David Yates and screenplay will be written by steve kloves.
Both these 'two' parts will be release in two consecutive years, i.e. November 2010 and May 2011.
David Heyman says "I went to Jo and she was cool with it". WB is also happy with this decision.
Yates continuing, ""Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] and those subplots . . . but with the seventh, that can't be done."
Now the question arises, where is the point where they'll split the story into two?
Mr. Yates says, "The question will be, where do you break it? And how do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories? Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges. But each book has presented its challenges."
Anyway, only time will prove whether this decision was good or wrong.
I'm not really happy with it.

Jo's new interview

There is a new interview in a scottish newspaper called 'Edinburgh Student'.
Jo confirms that she is writing a new 'Scottish' book and she also talks about Dumbledore's sexuallity and homophobia, and about christian controversies. You can view somee excerpts of this interview at TLC.

Jo writing 'children's book' in cafes' again

The Telegraph is reporting that she is returning again to write in cafes, just as she did writing the Harry Potter series. Jo says:

“I will continue writing for children because that’s what I enjoy,” reveals Jo, who greatly misses the child wizard. “It’s left me with the biggest emptiness in my life.” She will, however, leave behind the magical world of Hogwarts. “I believe that it’s good for me and good for my readers that I bring myself to work on something different,”

Hopefully the new book will be out soon!

Pogo may NOT air Order of the Phoenix

Well, I got some news about May Movie Magic. There is a rumour (yes, rumour) that Pogo will not air Order of the Phoenix until 2009. This delay is because of DVD to TV time.
I will update when I'll get some more news on this.

Newsround

Sorry for not posting anything for quite a long time, but here is a quick newsround for you:

• JK Rowling speaks about Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, likening him to English Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
• Order of the Phoenix BAFTA-less. Lost from Atonement and The Golden Compass.
• HBP filming takes place in Gloucester Cathederal.

Also, let me remind you that Half-Blood Prince's teaser poster will be online within next month, i.e. March and a teaser trailer will be online in April.

Harry Potter again Oscarless

So, Academy Awards nominations were declared yesterday and guess what? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix didn't got even a single nomination...
So heartbreaking! Anyway, Order of the Phoenix has joined Chamber of Secrets, which also was nominated for nothing.

Except the Oscars, OOTP has been very unsucessful in other pretigious awards like BAFTA (Nomintated for only two), Golden Globe (nominated for nothing).
Hope.... This Oscar-thing goes away from Harry Potter with Half-Blood Prince.

OOTP won Pogo Amazing Kids Best Foreign Movie

I know I know, Pogo Amazing has been announced since December, I just didn't knew it. Anyway, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has won Pogo Amazing Kids Award for best Foreign Movie 2007.

Isn't its great news!

I'm Safe with You, Harry

So, I've just got the teaser poster of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (it looks pretty legitimate, but its is not yet officially said or released by WB and I don't know whether it is fake or real).
Just for you -
EDIT: Sorry guys, but it is a fake poster. I apologise.