A son inherits his name through his father’s and if this was the case with Amitabh Bachhan he would have been known as Amitabh Rai Bachhan like his father Harivansh Rai Bachhan, a renowned poet of his time. He is a Shahanshah of Indian film industry, a status none could occupy and the reputation and popularity which he commands remains un-parallel in the history of Bollywood. Though in advancing age, he still exceeds his contemporaries in calibre and stamina. Normally the actors attaining a stature of popularity get swayed by it and develop a tendency of a false grandeur but he is the one who is much above all this remaining as simple a man as one in the masses. He did have his own romantic affairs but he didn’t allow them to mar his marital life continuing to remain a good husband. He is an idol, and ideal too, as a son, a father, a father-in-law and a grand father remaining fully a committed family man. He is just a simple person sans any kind of ego and even a commoner from the streets can meet him. He sees to it that within family circles every one talks in Hindi, the national language and his mother tongue instead of English which is otherwise a fancy for many in our country, more so in the Bollywood. Much away from the grandeur and falsehood, he hardly has any ego. Many of his co stars who wanted to pose themselves as superior to him insisted the film producers for higher remuneration compared to him which gesture he never resisted, he rather simply compromised with whatever he was paid. Now a days he appears more in ads but that is again a field for him where he is getting as much of a popularity as he got in the films. He is an inspiration and an ideal for the people in different age groups be it the younger generation or be it the older ones. Let us wish him to continue inspiring generation after generation.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Not just an actor:
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Television may even cost life:
How funny? There are television enthusiasts who have a fancy to copy every thing they see on a TV or some movie in a picture hall. There is a story published by the media that there were two boys who saw a hanging scene as a part of some picture on TV. The horror sort of the scene left a deep impression on their mind and they decided to go for a rehearsal of the same themselves. One of them offered to play the role of the man to be hanged and the other one opted to act as the Jallad (hangman). They faulted in playing their roles with the result that the boy who was doing rehearsal of the man to be hanged got really hanged in the process as the mock executioner had too tightly tied the noose around the neck of the other boy and it failed to open at the last moment. More than the boys, necessary precaution in fact might have been exercised by their guardians in the household as the growing adolescents are not supposed to be cautious enough against their activities of adventurism.
Monday, 24 December 2012
Smriti Irani is ‘Thumkewali’, says Sanjai Nirupam!
With a purpose to demean her integrity and dignity, Sanjai Nirupam of Congress Party at Mumbai, called Smriti Irani as thumkewali the other day. No wonder, as politicians always feel that they are a lot who can speak any thing any where against any body. The utterance gains more of a notice as this is what Sanjai Nirupam said when he was taking part in a rally aimed at defending women’s rights and safety. The adjective thumkewali is normally used in conjunction with kothewali (mostly the joy girls in red light area at Mumbai). The present day cinema is full of thumkewalis/ thumkewalas, and the list includes people like Govinda, who is a Member of Parliament, and Rekha, who also is an M.P. (Member, Rajya Sabha). Sanjai Nirupam is known well, particularly in Mumbai, for his active association with different artists in Bollywood several of whom are only thumkewalis/ thumkewalas. Smriti Irani has been a TV artist of great repute besides later joining the politics. She is much sober a woman commanding dignity and respect. As a person in politics, she is held in more of a respect than Sanjai Nirupam himself. If he aimed at insulting Smriti Irani by calling her different names, he is just mistaken, as people in general are the judge who actually know as to who is what. Behave yourself, Sanjai Nirupam.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Indian cinema completes 100 years of glory
The current month of February’2012 completes a century of its glorious years. Thanks to Dada Saheb Dhundraj Govind Phalke, a great cinema artist himself, who could take the credit of giving this country the first feature film ‘Raja Harishchandra’. It was exactly on 5th February a hundred years back that he undertook journey to England where he stayed for 2 months collecting necessary technical material then available to be used when he was due back to the country and this is how the first picture ‘Raja Harishchandra’ could be produced. Bollywood in India has far exceeded the number of films produced by Hollywood and the credit certainly goes to Dada Saheb Phalke. This is only an irony of the situation that he was not that much recognised in his life time as it was done after he was no more there. The story goes that once there was a big event organised in Mumbai commemorating the progress of cinema in the country but it struck to no body’s mind to invite Dada Saheb Phadke in the function. After some time some one noticed that as an enthusiast he was very much present there amongst the audience. Organisers rushed to him regretting their lapse taking him to the dais bestowing all honours upon him giving him recognition of a legend of the time.
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Of men and dogs
They relate to common men or celebrities, nature of quarrels is the same. Tug of war going on amongst star stalwarts in film industry like Aamir Khan, Shahrukh khan including even Amitabh Bachhan is a routinely known episode exchanging their blogs for the purpose. At times it crosses the limits of descency. Aamir Khan naming his dog as Shahrukh Khan for the purpose of ridiculing his arch rival King Shahrukh Khan. The pet dog is obviously supposed to be around his master at times falling into his lap or click his toes. This situation, ofcourse a normal feature with pet animals, gives a chance to Aamir Khan to talk about his pet this way 'Shahrukh is licking my feet and I am feeding him biscuits every now and then....'. Literally and factually he talks alright but the hidden target behind this throws a slur on Kingh Khan. Recognized as international figure and celebrities of a high status as they are, utterances like this are unbecoming of them.
Monday, 19 May 2008
No ageing for M.F. Hussain
Nearing a full century of life in a few years to come, Maqbool Fida Hussain, a great icon amongst world fame painters, continues to look the same age wise as he was a decade back, nay even much before that.
Age fails to leave any mark of it on him. Difficult to know as to what could be the secret of his longevity in life despite lot many odds he has to encounter every now and then and is always surrounded by some controversy or the other receiving at times even threats for his life on account of his controversial paintings. His mixing up with women and girls in whose company he is seen very often at times promiscuously too remains a subject of hot topics not only for the media but equally for the common people. Still looking so energetic and smart in a style dress he appeared as one of the guests in an Award giving function under the auspices of Zee, was quite in a form and could speak eloquently in chaste Urdu addressing the audience with a prologue '...main to haseen chehron ka aashiq hoon' ( I am lover of beautiful faces) adding that this sort of love on his part is never confined to a single person (obviously he might be having Madhuri Dixit Nene in mind) but any one looking beautiful is my favourite. Possibly his love for beauty, say beauty divine, is the secret of his long life.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Blogs may act as pacifiers too
Now that blogs are recognized as a most powerful communicational tool, they are sumptuously in use both by common men and the celebrities
and their contribution in bringing people together is enormous. Celebrities in movie world find it most convenient in reaching their admirers/fans through it. Their rapport with their audience and the viewers was never that easy earlier nor it was that possible for their fans to reach them earlier. Amitabh Bachhan is the one having since started his own website obviously for necessary interaction with the people. The expressions which otherwise needed a proper opportunity for the purpose can now just be given a shape any time a thought occurs to their mind which can well be shared by the persons so wanting. Aamir Khan has been doing it for quite sometime besides several others in the film industry. Amitabh Bachhan has spoken on several matter through his website on the subjects more or less untouched before. Misunderstanding between the two stalwarts -Amitabh Bachhan and Shahrukh Khan are a well known fact. Amitabh Bachhan has since expressed himself telling that he is for necessary reconciliation of the misunderstanding that is there between the two and that he would certainly like to talk to Shahrukh Khan. A good gesture indeed in burying the hatchet and if the result that emerges is positive, credit certainly goes to blogging media proving that this source is not just a routine scribbling but is a great pacifier too.
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Why it is an all out focuss on movies ?
Since ages it was religion that was a dominant factor from home to business and almost every where. Visiting temples, churches and mosques was a routine factor of life. There are changes now and the general concentration is not that much confined to it, it has changed direction which, the direction that has movies as a foremost important area. You talk of any situation or subject, the reactions you get in reply from the current generation of people are invariably centred to the themes they prefer uppermost. You talk of Ramayan (Ram Charitra Manas) of Tulsidas, they will refer to Arun Govil who played the role of Ram in the record TV serial in his name. Talking of other Gods, they will refer to Dara Singh, an athelete of world fame turned to film actor, as it was he who played the role of Veer Hanuman in the same TV serial. You name some goddess, they will react with mention of some movie star or the other. It could be Preity Zinta, Madhuri Dixit (Nene), Aishwarya Rai Bachhan or the likes. Nothing sells in any market unless the brands wear some tag of Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachhan, Rhitik Roshan or some other heavy weight in filmdom. You ask any child to sing a song and the child comes out readily reciting some couplet, normally of a romantic order only, from some film as that is how the children are now a days taught by their parents to cope with the latest trend of taste in society. There is no political party in the country who has failed to enlist some film star of eminence or the other to support it as if no politics can be practised unless there is necessary patronage from movie world. Possibly this is the taste of the people all over the country and it is difficult to say to which end it ultimately settles down in days to come. Just a little before I saw a news clip on my laptop with the headline telling that Amitabh Bachhan will be the next Prime Minister of India. The world of glamour is capable of superceding every thing.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
She rose from rags to riches and what not

Thursday, 10 April 2008
Badshah or King ?
What a controversy? The media, the people, the information agencies are all engrossed in every time talking about as to who stands where, whether it is Amitabh Bachhan who is the real Badshah of film industry or whether virtually it is Shahrukh Khan who stands on the top as the King in Bollywood. Why this question is raised every now and then and at times it appears as if there is no other business warranting attention in the affairs of the country. Both these stars are a great asset for the nation and both have enormous contribution in enhancing and propagating the image of the country at the global level. Amitabh Bachhan is the one actor who has played all roles pertaining to the society. When asked by a journalist as to whether there is any role he has not yet played, Amitabh Bachhan's answer recently was 'yes, Bhoot'. Bhoot is his new picture where his role is that of a ghost. Symbolically this answer also gave a distant impression of Amitabh Bachhan talking of a phase after life as he is now quite in an advancing age block. Whatever roles he has played till now are all a superb performance, animated and lively. Shahraukh has been a role model of youth after Amitabh's image as 'angry young man' started feigning. An amount of overacting is most often found in Shahrukh's performance but it was never the case with Amitabh Bachhan. These are the after the roles imitating life on screen but what really matters is as to how these roles are performed. Performance wise both are the gems procuring global laurels for India and there is no reason why unnecessary grades be added to them isolating one from the other. Both deserve appreciation, recognition and respect by the people of the country.
Saturday, 5 April 2008
If Aishwarya Rai was an ordinary woman ?
She has been Miss Universe, she is a beauty and a heart throb of millions of people the world over, she is the leading lady occupying the top rung of the film industry and what not could it be that she has not been able to enjoy in life. She virtuallly reigns with her looks that cause the waves whichever side she directs her gaze. Her love biggies being a large number acting as rivals with one another in several instances are a story in themselves. Suppose for a moment that she was not what she is and was just an ordinary woman in some locality in which case the assessment on many counts could have been just different. The laws of the society could have prevailed to cast disdainful looks on her for having free styled love affairs and may be she was discarded by the puritans dictating terms in the social arena of things. Religious mythologies are full of such stories where women used to have physical relations with several males at a time like Kunti in Mahabharat or Draupadi of Pandawas. There are stories where women with one husband for life were adored and worshipped. There are yet stories where women didn't go for the ritual of marriage but had a full fledged physical alliance with men switching over to one after the other. Applying an analytical appraisal of the total scenario, what is evident on the surface is the phenomenon that the social rules were drastically applied on the females who otherwise were not strong enough to take cudgels against the rule makers in the society but those who had a capacity and status to assert were not touched. Amrapalli in Budha era was bold enough to declare, ofcourse presse by circumstances, that she was for opting prostitution as her career which announcement was sumptuously hailed by those very men who were known for making laws against free love. Ours is a society where strength counts as against role of a simpleton meekly succumbing to irrelevant social rules.
Monday, 10 December 2007
Rakhee Sawant's interview:
Only the other day I had to see an interview of Rakhee Sawant, a dancer and an actress of repute, on a tv channel. I was trying to find out some thing of grace and dignity on the part of an artist otherwise of national status but felt somewhat deluded as except glitter of beauty and grandeur of makeup there was hardly any thing worth noticing. She repeatedly advocated for her innocence and quite surprisingly she emphasized Gandhigeeri as her approach point in life. Both these assertions are highly in contrast to the life pattern she is known to be leading. She honours her parents much as she said but she is the one who hardly cares for their advice not to expose her so much atleast in public. With a wide mouthed gesture every time she answered the question she showed her tongue out as if to gallop the attention of the audience to her throat. On every reaction of the people in audience she invariably used 'Oh, God' as an interjection. There was hardly any moment of seriousness or a modest gesture on reactions of the viewers. Her total body language being that of a vagabond, she miserably failed to establish any sober rapport with the audience.
Friday, 27 April 2007
Love making in full public view !

Most widely covered by media, the episode of Shilpa Shetty and Richard Gere indulging into a robust romantic posture on stage publicly has been a matter of talks everywhere all these days. Now that they have been summoned by the Court to explain their conduct, the incident acquires graver proportions and is no more just a routine gossip. The explaination addressed to “My Dear Indian friend” by Hollywood star Richard Gere while apologizing for the incident is more irritating than convincing. His emphasis on his “…intentions as an HIV/ Aids advocate” sound to be only ridiculous in the sense that what he demonstrated in an open public show had hardly any thing to do with HIV or Aids unless ofcourse he meant to indicate that the way he and Shilpa behaved at the stage was an education on safeguards against HIV/Aids as they did everything openly except sex. The photograph inserted with this post is the one shown on TV dozens of time and published by several newspapers and magazines sumptuously. Any one can read easily the amount of provocation it carries.
Once in Mumbai I saw a police man at Marine Drive taking a couple into custody for the reason that they were found indulging in ‘obscene postures’ –the obscene posture being that the man was trying to take the woman into a waist to waist tight embrace down below the stone blocks. Certain passersby intervening with the request to spare them had no impact on the police man who was dead bent upon to take them to police station repeating his remarks that it was a serious offence in Law. True, this couple might have been of a trivial status and for him there was no escape against Law but the same act perpetrated in much higher a magnitude is capable of being ignored if the partners involved are celebrities. Shilpa Shetty became much more famous after her ‘Big Brother’ incident abroad and Richard Gere is an outstanding personality from Hollywood. No dearth of explanations and excused for them. They are quite capable of giving good names to the scandal –it could be an awareness programme on HIV/Aids or just a measure of behaving against dogmatism as ‘modern’ or say ‘ultra modern’. Shilpa justifies the act with the remarks that it was all in public interest and for their welfare. Fact as it manifests on the surface is after all that it was hardly any thing more than an irresponsible behaviour or a crude sort of lust for publicity.