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Give Bihar special status now or you will have to give it in 2014: Nitish Kumar (ndtv.com)
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People will get ‘Congress-free’ India in 2014: Modi (vancouverdesi.com)
BJP will take 300 seats on own strength, says Rudy (thehindu.com)
Nitish Kumar’s show of strength in Delhi today to demand special status for Bihar (ndtv.com)
BJP should project Modi in LS elections, Ramdev says – Times of India (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Social media key to outcome in 160 Lok Sabha seats: Study (vancouverdesi.com)
Facebook users can influence results in 30% of Lok Sabha seats in 2014 (ibnlive.in.com)
Social media to influence 160 Lok Sabha seats in next polls: study (ndtv.com)
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Roger Ebert – A Film Critic With Poet’s Heart

Posted on April 11, 2013 by VIDUR [ Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA APRIL 11 , 2013 04.35 P.M.

Roger Ebert Memorial Portrait (Photo credit: faithmouse)

Roger Ebert , the renowned US film critic and TV anchor , who was almost as famous as many of the Hollywood stars , died on April 04 , 2013 aged 70. It is sad that I got introduced to his world very late in my life . I am thankful to internet that I could know him intimately through his blogs , his twitter-handle and his hugely popular columns in newspapers . Now I do follow him on twitter but it all started recently . It all began just now .

Roger Ebert, American Film Critic. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roger Joseph Ebert

June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013

” No good film is too long and no bad movie is short enough ”.

Roger Ebert was an American journalist, film critic, and screenwriter . He was a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death . In 1975, he was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, an award given to newspaper writers . As of 2010, his reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and abroad . Ebert also published more than 20 books and dozens of collections of reviews .

Described as a “critic with the soul of a poet” Roger Ebert was named the most powerful critic in America by Forbes in 2007.

Writing on his blog on Tuesday i.e. April 02 , 2013 , he said he planned to take a “leave of presence”. He explained: “It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. I’ll be able at last to do what I’ve always fantasized about doing : reviewing only the movies I want to review.”

But two days later on April 04 , 2013 , he died early in the afternoon at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Ebert, a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago, was said to have been “prolific, almost to the point of disbelief” with the weekend section of the Sun-Times often featuring as many as nine of his interviews, profiles and reviews.

His work included interviews and profiles of notable actors and directors in addition to his reviews – celebrating such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum.

In 1969 he took a leave of absence from the Sun-Times to write the screenplay of ” Beyond the Valley of the Dolls “ for Russ Meyer .

Cover of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

He also found television fame on Sneak Previews on PBS . It made Ebert a household name along with fellow critic Gene Siskel – who died in 1999 . Ebert’s television career was curtailed in 2002 when he was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. He was unable to speak and eat after further surgery in 2006.

Movie critic Gene Siskel at the Governor’s Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Writing his last blog this week in April 2013 he said: “It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital . So, on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.”

His thumbs up and thumbs down reviews were very famous among the connoisseurs of cinema , who read his column or watched his show .

Thumbs down : Classic Ebert reviews :

Stargate (1994) “The movie Ed Wood, about the worst director of all time, was made to prepare us for Stargate.”

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) “If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination.”

Battlefield Earth (2000) “Battlefield Earth is like taking a bus trip with someone who has needed a bath for a long time. It’s not merely bad; it’s unpleasant in a hostile way

Armageddon (1998) “No matter what they’re charging to get in, it’s worth more to get out.”

North (1994) “I hated this movie. Hated, hated, hated, hated, hated this movie. Hated it. Hated every simpering stupid vacant audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.”

His last blog amplifies his persona in the best possible way . I am re-producing the whole piece from his website :

A Leave of Presence

by Roger Ebert

April 2, 2013 | 1032

Thank you. Forty-six years ago on April 3, 1967, I became the film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Some of you have read my reviews and columns and even written to me since that time. Others were introduced to my film criticism through the television show, my books, the website, the film festival, or the Ebert Club and newsletter. However you came to know me, I’m glad you did and thank you for being the best readers any film critic could ask for.

Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I’m taking what I like to call “a leave of presence.”

What in the world is a leave of presence? It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. What’s more, I’ll be able at last to do what I’ve always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review.

At the same time, I am re-launching the new and improved Rogerebert.com and taking ownership of the site under a separate entity, Ebert Digital, run by me, my beloved wife, Chaz, and our brilliant friend, Josh Golden of Table XI. Stepping away from the day-to-day grind will enable me to continue as a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and roll out other projects under the Ebert brand in the coming year.

Ebertfest, my annual film festival, celebrating its 15th year, will continue at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, my alma mater and home town, April 17-21. In response to your repeated requests to bring back the TV show “At the Movies,” I am launching a fundraising campaign via Kickstarter in the next couple of weeks. And gamers beware, I am even thinking about a movie version of a video game or mobile app. Once completed, you can engage me in debate on whether you think it is art.

And I continue to cooperate with the talented filmmaker Steve James on the bio-documentary he, Steve Zaillian and Martin Scorsese are making about my life. I am humbled that anyone would even think to do it, but I am also grateful.

Of course, there will be some changes. The immediate reason for my “leave of presence” is my health. The “painful fracture” that made it difficult for me to walk has recently been revealed to be a cancer. It is being treated with radiation, which has made it impossible for me to attend as many movies as I used to. I have been watching more of them on screener copies that the studios have been kind enough to send to me. My friend and colleague Richard Roeper and other critics have stepped up and kept the newspaper and website current with reviews of all the major releases. So we have and will continue to go on. At this point in my life, in addition to writing about movies, I may write about what it’s like to cope with health challenges and the limitations they can force upon you. It really stinks that the cancer has returned and that I have spent too many days in the hospital. So on bad days I may write about the vulnerability that accompanies illness. On good days, I may wax ecstatic about a movie so good it transports me beyond illness.

I’ll also be able to review classics for my “Great Movies” collection, which has produced three books and could justify a fourth.

For now, I am throwing myself into Ebert Digital and the redesigned, highly interactive and searchable Rogerebert.com. You’ll learn more about its exciting new features on April 9 when the site is launched. In addition to housing an archive of more than 10,000 of my reviews dating back to 1967 we will also feature reviews written by other critics. You may disagree with them like you have with me, but will nonetheless appreciate what they bring to the party. Some I recruited from the ranks of my Far Flung Correspondents, an inspiration I had four years ago when I noticed how many of the comments on my blog came from foreign lands and how knowledgeable they were about cinema.

We’ll be recruiting more critics and it is my hope that some of the writers I have admired over the years will be among them. We’ll offer many more reviews of Indie, foreign, documentary and restored classic revivals. As the space between broadcast television, cable and the internet morph into a hybrid of content, we will continue to spotlight the musings of Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Tom Shales, as well as the blog “Scanners” by Jim Emerson, who I first met at Microsoft when he edited Cinemania. The Ebert Club newsletter, under editor Marie Haws of Vancouver, will be expanded to give its thousands of subscribers even bigger and better benefits.

For years I devoutly took every one of my tear sheets, folded them and added them to a pile on my desk. The photo above shows the height of that pile in 1985 as it appeared on the cover of my first book about the movies published by my old friends John McMeel and Donna Martin of Andrews & McMeel. Today, because of technology, the opportunities to become bigger, better and reach more people are piling up too. The fact that we’re re-launching the site now, in the midst of other challenges, should give you an idea how important Rogerebert.com and Ebert Digital are to Chaz and me. I hope you’ll stop by, and look for me. I’ll be there.

So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.

[ Above portion is Taken from his website ]

Ebert compiled “best of the year” movie lists beginning in the 1960s, thereby helping provide an overview of his critical preferences . His top choices were :

1982: Sophie’s Choice
1983: The Right Stuff
1984: Amadeus
1985: The Color Purple
1986: Platoon
1987: House of Games
1988: Mississippi Burning
1989: Do the Right Thing
1990: Goodfellas
1991: JFK
1992: Malcolm X
1993: Schindler’s List
1994: Hoop Dreams
1995: Leaving Las Vegas
1996: Fargo

1997: Eve’s Bayou
1998: Dark City
1999: Being John Malkovich
2000: Almost Famous
2001: Monster’s Ball
2002: Minority Report
2003: Monster
2004: Million Dollar Baby
2005: Crash
2006: Pan’s Labyrinth
2007: Juno
2008: Synecdoche, New York
2009: The Hurt Locker
2010: The Social Network
2011: A Separation
2012: Argo

On behalf of all the students and staff of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , I offer my condolences to Ebert’s wife Madame Chaz Hammel-Smith and his family and admirers .

I may not be running the most famous acting school of Mumbai , or the most famous acting institute of India , or the most famous acting academy of bollywood , or the most famous acting institute of the world , I may be small and very insignificant , but I thought it proper to offer my condolences to Madame Chaz and show my respect to the most famous film critic of the world . On his death even Barack Obama , the president of United States of America , expressed his grief . It shows his stature and importance .

Rest in peace sir ! You will be missed a lot . I will always be in touch with you through your website and your books . I will always regret the fact that I came to know you when the end was so close .

[ This blog is not entirely written by me . Name of the movies posted above is taken from Wikipedia . Long introduction of Roger Ebert is taken from his website and his thumbs down quotes about movies have been taken from the various sources and articles posted on the internet . I am indebted and express my gratitude .]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

Roger Ebert Dead: Chicago Sun-Times Film Critic Passes Away at Age 70 (news.moviefone.com)
Sun-Times: Famed Movie Critic Roger Ebert Dies (witn.com)
Roger Ebert, celebrated film critic, dies at 70 (ctvnews.ca)
Sun-Times: Famed movie critic Roger Ebert dies (wcnc.com)
Chicago Sun-Times Film Critic Roger Ebert has died (cltv.com)
Chicago Sun-Times Film Critic Roger Ebert has died (wgntv.com)
Sun-Times: Famed movie critic Roger Ebert dies (krem.com)
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert dies (buzzhub.wordpress.com)
Roger Ebert Dies at 70 (swaggcentral.com)
Stars React to Roger Ebert’s Death (abcnews.go.com)

Filed under: Obituary | Tagged: 3 Women, A Leave of Presence, A Separation, Acting Institute, Acting Trainer, Alfred Hitchcock, Almost Famous, Amadeus, American Film Critic Roger Ebert, An Unmarried Woman, Apocalypse Now, Argo, Armageddon, At The Movies, Barack Obama, Battlefield Earth, Being John Malkovich, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Bollywood, Bonnie and Clyde, Chaz, Chaz Hammel-Smith, Chicago Sun-Times, Crash, Cries and Whispers, Critic With The Soul of A Poet, Dark City, Diction Trainer, Do the Right Thing, Ebert, Ebert Digital, Ebertfest, Eve's Bayou, Fargo, Film, Film Criticism, Film Journalism, Five Easy Pieces, Forbes, Gene Siskel, Goodfellas, Hindi Teacher, Hoop Dreams, House of Games, India, JFK, John Travolta, John Wayne, Juno, Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi, Leaving Las Vegas, Maharashtra, Malcolm X, Martin Scorsese, Million Dollar Baby, Minority Report, Mississippi Burning, Monster, Monster's Ball, Movies, Mumbai, MUMBAI - MAHARASHTRA - INDIA, My Dinner with Andre, Nashville, North, Obituary, Pan's Labyrinth, PBS Television, Platoon, President of United States of America, President of USA, Pulitzer Prize, Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Robert Mitchum, Roger Ebert, Roger Ebert American Film Critic, Russ Meyer, Scenes from a Marriage, Schindler's List, Small Change, Sophie's Choice, Stargate, Synecdoche New York, The Battle of Algiers, The Black Stallion, The Color Purple, The Ebert Club, The Godfather, The Hurt Locker, The Last Picture Show, The Most Famous Acting Academy of Bollywood, The Most Famous Acting Institute of India, The Most Famous Acting Institute of the World, The Most Famous Acting School of Mumbai, The Right Stuff, The Social Network, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, United States, Universal Press Syndicate, US Film Critic Roger Ebert, Vidur, Vidur Chaturvedi, Vidur on Twitter, Vidur's Blog, Vidur's Kreating Charakters, Vidur's Students | Leave a Comment »

Remembering Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Posted on April 10, 2013 by VIDUR [ Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA APRIL 10 , 2013 01.10 A.M.

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala , CBE

7 May 1927 – 3 April 2013

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala in Younger Days

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

She was a German-born British and American Booker prize-winning novelist, short story writer and two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala wrote a dozen novels, 23 screenplays and eight collections of short stories . She was made a CBE in 1998 ^.She is the only person to ever have won both a Booker Prize and an Oscar.

She mainly wrote screenplay for Merchant Ivory Productions . In 1963, Jhabvala was approached by James Ivory and Ismail Merchant to write a screenplay for their debut film ” The Householder ” based on her 1960 novel. The movie, released by Merchant Ivory Productions in 1963 and starring Shashi Kapoor and Leela Naidu met with critical praise and it marked the beginning of a partnership that resulted in over 20 films.

The Triumvirate : Ivory , Merchant & Jhabvala

The Householder was followed by Shakespeare Wallah (1965) , Roseland (1977) , Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie’s Pictures (1978) , The Europeans (1979) , Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980) , Quartet (1981) , The Courtesans of Bombay (1983) , Heat and Dust in (1983 ) , The Bostonians (1984) , Madame Sousatzka (1988) , Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990) , Jefferson in Paris (1995) , Surviving Picasso (1996) , A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (1998) , the screenplay for which she co-authored with Ivory, The Golden Bowl (2000) and The City of Your Final Destination (2009) which was adapted from the eponymous novel by Peter Cameron and was her last screenplay.Le Divorce which she co-wrote with Ivory was the last movie that featured the trio of Merchant, Ivory and Jhabvala before Merchant’s death that year.

The Triumvirate : Ivory , Merchant & Jhabvala

She won her first Academy Award for her screenplay for A Room with a View (1986) and won a second in the same category for Howards End (1992) . She was nominated for a third Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay the following year for The Remains of the Day (1993) .

Selected screenplays

Year	Title	Other notes
2008	The City of Your Final Destination	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Peter Cameron
2003	Le Divorce	co-written by James Ivory, adapted from the novel by Diane Johnson
2000	The Golden Bowl	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Henry James
1998	A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Kaylie Jones
1996	Surviving Picasso	screenplay
1995	Jefferson in Paris	written by
1993	The Remains of the Day	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
1992	Howards End	screenplay, adapted from the novel by E. M. Forster
1990	Mr. and Mrs. Bridge	screenplay, adapted from the novels by Evan S. Connell (“Mr. Bridge” & “Mrs. Bridge”)
1988	Madame Sousatzka	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Bernice Rubens. Directed by John Schlesinger
1985	A Room with a View	screenplay, adapted from the novel by E. M. Forster
1984	The Bostonians	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Henry James
1983	Heat and Dust	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Jhabvala
1981	Quartet	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Jean Rhys
1980	Jane Austen in Manhattan	written by, inserted libretto “Sir Charles Grandison” by Jane Austen
1979	The Europeans	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Henry James
1978	Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie’s Pictures	written by
1977	Roseland	story and screenplay
1975	Autobiography of a Princess	written by
1972	Bombay Talkie	screenplay
1969	The Guru	screenplay
1965	Shakespeare Wallah	screenplay
1963	The Householder	screenplay, adapted from the novel by Jhabvala

This two-time Oscar winner for her screenplays will also be remembered for her unforgettable novels and short stories like :

Novels and short stories

To Whom She Will (1955; published in the United States as Amrita)
The Nature of Passion (1956).
Esmond in India (1958)
The Householder (1960)
Get Ready for Battle (1962)
Like Birds, Like Fishes (1963)
A Backward Place (1965)
A Stronger Climate (1968)
An Experience of India (1971)
A New Dominion (1972; published in the United States as Travelers)
Heat and Dust (1975)
How I Became a Holy Mother and other stories (1976),
In Search of Love and Beauty (1983)
Out of India (1986)
Three Continents (1987)
Poet and Dancer (1993)
Shards of Memory (1995)
East Into Upper East: Plain Tales from New York and New Delhi (1998)
My Nine Lives (2004)

She will be missed . I saw her film ” The Householder ” in Palace talkies of Allahabad and was moved that two Indian actors ; Shashi Kapoor and Leela Naidu , played the main protagonists in the film , which she wrote . Though at that time I didn’t know that the writer of the film is Ruth Prawer Jhabvala .

On behalf of all the students and staff of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , I offer my condolences . May her soul rest in peace !

[ I have taken the list of her films and name of the novels and short stories written by her from Wikipedia . Certain other facts and data is also taken from Wikipedia . As I always do , I express my profound gratitude . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, 1927 – 2013 (theparisreview.org)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Award-Winning Novelist And Screenwriter, Dies (npr.org)
Oscar Winner Dies: ‘Howards End’ Screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Has Died (contactmusic.com)
‘Room With a View’ Screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Dies at 85 (variety.com)
Oscar winner, author Ruth Prawer Jhabvala dies (miamiherald.com)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Merchant Ivory’s secret weapon, dead at 85 (timesunion.com)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s Stories (newyorker.com)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, award-winning author and screenwriter, dies at 85 (latimes.com)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Oscar-winning screenwriter and award-winning author, dies at 85 (vancouversun.com)
Oscar-winning screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala dies at 85 (panarmenian.net)

Filed under: Obituary | Tagged: Vidur Chaturvedi, Acting Trainer, Diction Trainer, Hindi Teacher, Vidur, Vidur's Blog, Vidur on Twitter, Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi, Film, Vidur's Students, Booker Prize, Shashi Kapoor, Mumbai, Maharashtra, MUMBAI - MAHARASHTRA - INDIA, Obituary, Merchant Ivory Productions, The Courtesans of Bombay, Academy Award, Vidur's Kreating Charakters, Acting Institute, Leela Naidu, A Room with a View, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, James Ivory, Bridge, Ismail Merchant, City of Your Final Destination, A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries, Order of the British Empire, CBE, The Householder, Shakespeare Wallah, Roseland, Hullaballoo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures, The Europeans, Jane Austen in Manhattan, Quartet, Heat and Dust, The Bostonians, Madame Sousatzka, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Jefferson in Paris, Surviving Picasso, The Golden Bowl, The City of Your Final Destination, Le Divorce, Howards End, The Remains of the Day, Bombay Talkie, The Guru, To Whom She Will, The Nature of Passion, Esmond in India, Get Ready for Battle, Like Birds Like Fishes, A Backward Place, A Stronger Climate, An Experience of India, A New Dominion, In Search of Love and Beauty, Out Of India, Three Continent, Poet and Dancer, Shards of Memory, My Nine Lives, Palace Talkies Allahabad | Leave a Comment »

Stella Adler & Her Mumbai Connection

Posted on April 7, 2013 by VIDUR [ Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA APRIL 07 , 2013 11.00 P.M.

One of the most influential but not-so-well-known acting trainer of the world , Stella Adler was briefly associated with Mumbai through her acting institute . Famous film director Rahul Rawail signed MOU with her acting institute , got the franchise and finally opened ” Stella Adler Studio of Acting ” in Mumbai .

Cropped screenshot of Stella Adler from the trailer for Shadow of the Thin Man (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

General public is not aware of her stature . Even in Indian acting training world she is not so well-known . For my readers and general public , I am quoting the complete preface written by legendary actor Marlon Brando , who was one of her many students . He wrote this preface for the book ” The Art of Acting ” , written by Howard Kissel :

A photograph promoting the film The Wild One depicts actor Marlon Brando. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

” To me Stella Adler is much more than a teacher of acting . Through her work she imparts the most valuable kind of information – how to discover the nature of our own emotional mechanics and therefore those of others . She never lent herself to vulgar exploitation , as some other well-known so-called ” methods ” of acting have done . As a result , her contributions to the theatrical culture have remained largely unknown , unrecognized and unappreciated .

As far as I know , she was the only American artiste who went to Paris to study with Constantin Stanislavski , who was himself a skilled observer of human behaviour and a most prominent figure in Russian theatre . She brought back to this country knowledge of this technique and incorporated it in her teaching . Little did she know that her teachings would impact theatrical culture worldwide . Almost all film-making anywhere in the world has been affected by American films , which has been , in turn , influenced by Stella Adler’s teachings . She is loved by many and we owe her much .

I am grateful to the inestimable contributions she has made to my life and I feel privileged to have been associated with her and her family professionally and personally throughout my life . “

Stella Adler Theatre, 6777 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stella Adler Theatre (Photo credit: Thomas Hawk)

This preface says everything about Stella Adler and I don’t think I can add anything more substantial . Though , compared to Lee Strasberg , she is not so well-known but according to many actors , directors and film personalities of the world , she was a better acting teacher . Every single-acting teacher of the world follows the principles laid down by Stanislavski but she was the only one who got trained under Stanislavski .

I am a great fan of Stella Adler . When I read about her life and work , I found to my amazement , that my behaviour in my class is quite similar to Ms. Stella Adler . Unintentionally and unknowingly I always shared same kind of relationship and vibes with my acting students .

It is sad that her foray in Mumbai was short-lived . It would have been pleasure to have her here . I personally feel that Mr. Rahul Rawail did not comprehend her importance and thus lost an opportunity . I am reproducing a news item from Mumbai Mirror of September 19 , 2012 about this stupendous failure .

Rawail’s acting school shuts shop?

VICKEY LALWANI, Mumbai Mirror Sep 19, 2012, 09.21AM IST

(Rahul Rawail )

Filmmaker Rahul Rawail’s (of Betaab and Arjun fame) acting school that was launched by Rishi Kapoor, Kajol, Priya Dutt and Poonam Dhillon amidst a lot of fanfare has shut shop. When we visited the academy situated in Ajivasan Building ‘B’ Wing on Juhu Tara Road, we found the place locked. We learnt that playback singer Suresh Wadkar is now using the place to hold his music classes every evening.

Acting trainers of India swear by Constantin Stanislavski and Lee Strasberg . They are not so fond of Stella Adler . Self-proclaimed most famous acting school of Mumbai , self-anointed most famous acting institute of India and self-appointed most famous acting academy of bollywood have no place in their heart for Stella Adler . They are blissfully unaware of her existence and her immense contributions to the world of acting training .

I keep on mentioning her theories of acting to my students in my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . One day I wish to visit ” Stella Adler Studio of Acting ” to pay my tribute . I wish and pray that as an acting trainer / tutor / teacher I should be able to achieve even 1/4 th of what she attained in her teaching life . I pray to God that like ” Stella Adler Studio of Acting ” , one day my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters will also be recognized as one of the most famous acting institutes of the world .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

Who was Constantin Stanislavsky, the man behind method acting? (voicerussia.com)
Cryptoquote Spoiler – 03/06/13 (unclerave.wordpress.com)
James Franco Play Collage Week Long Run at Stella Adler Theater (binsidetv.net)
Ask Me: Books to Read? (thenycactor.net)

Filed under: Acting Training | Tagged: Acting Institute, Acting Teacher, Acting Trainer, Acting Trainers of India, Acting Tutor, Bollywood, Constantin Stanislavski, Diction Trainer, Film, Hindi Teacher, India, Kajol, Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi, Lee Strasberg, Maharashtra, Marlon Brando, Method Acting, Most Famous Acting Academy of Bollywood, Most Famous Acting Institute of India, Most Famous Acting Institutes of the World, Most Famous Acting School of Mumbai, Mumbai, MUMBAI - MAHARASHTRA - INDIA, Mumbai Mirror, Poonam Dhillon, Priya Dutt, Rahul Rawail, Rishi Kapoor, Stanislavski, Stella Adler, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Stella Adler Theatre, Strasberg, Suresh Wadkar, The Art of Acting, The Method, Vidur, Vidur Chaturvedi, Vidur on Twitter, Vidur's Blog, Vidur's Kreating Charakters, Vidur's Students | Leave a Comment »

West Bengal Needs Mamata Banerjee

Posted on April 6, 2013 by VIDUR [ Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA APRIL 06 , 2013 11.40 P.M.

It is hard to defend a death . It is difficult not to sympathise with the grieving family of a 23 year – old boy Sudipto Gupta . It is suicidal to swim against the tide . It is politically wrong to support a government , which is accused by one and all , for murdering a young boy . But still there is a case in favour of Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress . Before getting swayed away by the orchestrated public outcry , before being inundated by the flood of tears of cunning comrades , pause for a moment and think properly .

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The dead boy belonged to SFI [ Student Federation of India ] . This so called youth organization is affiliated to CPI-M [ Communist Party of India - Marxist ] . And it is prudent to recall that CPI-M ruled West Bengal for almost 4 decades . And then came Mamata Banerjee and she single-handedly defeated the mighty , invincible comrades . And the comrades are not supposed to give up power easily and willingly. Comrades are desperate to dislodge Mamata Banerjee since then .

Every politician can falter . May be Mamata Banerjee made some mistakes . But she is an elected Chief Minister of West Bengal . She should be allowed to rule for 5 years and that too peacefully. CPI-M should understand this , and if they are not willing to understand then they should be forced to see the writing on the wall . It should be drilled into their dark , empty heads .

I am forced to remember happenings from the day one , when Mamata Banerjee took charge of West Bengal . She went to inspect a hospital and the doctor on duty questioned her presence in the hospital . Is it not proper for an elected Chief Minister of a state to visit a hospital ? Should a people’s representative seek doctor’s permission before visiting a hospital ? The answer is a definite no . But CPI-M , through their committed card-holder members , wanted to show the world that Mamta Bannerjee is a persona – non – grata in her own state .

They , forgetting their own blood-drenched past , are now shedding copious tears on national television after Sudipto Gupta’s death . I could feel a sense of glee in the hearts of comrades . Apparently Sitaram Yechuri was showing grief at the demise of SFI member but he seemed to be quite pleased that at least now they have got a stick to beat the formidable foe .

Their selective amnesia should be brought in the public view . Comrades are adept in annihilating their political opponents . They have killed thousands of RSS [ Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ] workers in Kerala . They have brutally murdered their political opponents in West Bengal . Ask any CPI-M deserters . They will tell you the gruesome story . In the hinterlands of West Bengal , comrades used to hang a white sari in front of the house of the person , who voted or even participated in the political activities of opposition parties . White sari symbolised the impending widowhood to the wife of the deserter .

National media knows everything but they are myopic and inadvertently helping CPI-M . And shrewd comrades are exploiting the situation and enjoying the moment . They are shedding copious tears on the national television but in the privacy of their offices they must be having orgasm . At least no one can support West Bengal government of Mamata Banerjee on this point .

Death is sad . Death of a young man is shattering for the family . But may I ask why these comrades are on rampage since their defeat in West Bengal ? Why the comrades are not willing to wait for 5 years ? If their commitment for democracy is so unflinching , they should wait for the next general election . They should desist from unleashing their cadres on the streets and on police . When they were ruling West Bengal , it is alleged that they tried to annihilate Mamata Banerjee . They insulted her . They dragged her on the streets by catching hold of her hair . But a hypocrite like Sitaram Yetury , who is shedding tears now , was silent then . Even late Jyoti Basu , who is considered a BHADROLOK [ gentlemen ] by the media , remained a passive and silent onlooker like the mythological Dhritarashtra .

Jyoti Basu (8 July 1914 – 17 January 2010) or Jyotirindra Basu was an Indian politician belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from West Bengal, India. He served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister of any Indian state. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am not from Bengal . I can’t be accused of having any personal interest in the politics of Mamata Banerjee . I am not going to gain anything by supporting her and that too at this juncture . But I know the cunning comrades . I just felt that even at this juncture India and the discerning public should know the truth and they should not be swayed away by temporary and fluid situations and emotions . It would be fatal to play in the hands of comrades . These murderers are waiting for the opportunity and we should not do anything to help them . Their dream of ruling India is shattered . Their secret wish to paint India red lies in shambles . Any effort to demonize Mamata Banerjee would be like inviting the killers in our house .

A dream never fulfilled (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I feel for the family of the dead boy . I sympathise with the near and dear ones . But I refuse to criticize Mamata Banerjee for this death . Because I also remember the killings and annihilation of political opponents done by the communists of India .

Police claims that Sudipto Gupta died because of accident . Comrades are crying foul . You should remember ACP Dhoble of Mumbai police . He was accused of murdering a hawker in Mumbai and was subsequently transferred . Now it is known to all after enquiry that the hawker died of cardiac arrest . What if same case is repeated in Kolkata ? Think and think properly .

Famous acting schools of Mumbai , famous acting institutes of India and the famous acting academy of bollywood have no time for such topics . My acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters think that apart from imparting acting training , it is also our duty to make our students aware of such happenings .

Flag of All India Trinamool Congress (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Assembly election results map (by district). Light green denotes the districts won by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, and Red denotes those won by the CPI(M). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

West Bengal needs Mamata Banerjee . In fact the nation needs her . And yes , we don’t need CPI-M or CPI at all . They should be consigned in the trash-bins of history .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

h taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh

Mamata calls SFI activist’s death unfortunate (ibnlive.in.com)
SFI Leaders Death: Police Claim Accident Family Cries Foul (indiatimes.com)
SFI activist’s death in Kolkata: Left targets Mamata (ibnlive.in.com)
Trinamool threatening opposition workers: CPI-M (vancouverdesi.com)

Filed under: Politics | Tagged: ACP Dhoble, Acting Institute, Acting Trainer, Acting Training, All India Trinamool Congress, Bengal, Bhadrolok of Bengal, Bollywood, Communist Party of India, communist party of india marxist, Communists of Bengal, Communists of India, Communists of West Bengal, CPI, CPI-M, Diction Trainer, Famous Acting Academy of Bollywood, Famous Acting Institutes of India, Famous Acting Schools of Mumbai, Hindi Teacher, India, Jyoti Basu, Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi, Kerala, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Mamata Banerjee, Mumbai, MUMBAI - MAHARASHTRA - INDIA, Mumbai Police, Politics, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, RSS, SFI, Sitaram Yechuri, Student Federation of India, Sudipto Gupta, Trinamool Congress, Vidur, Vidur Chaturvedi, Vidur on Twitter, Vidur's Blog, Vidur's Kreating Charakters, Vidur's Students, West Bengal | Leave a Comment »

Vidur’s Film Diary – March 2013

Posted on April 4, 2013 by VIDUR [ Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA APRIL 04, 2013 00.20 A.M.

Month of March 2013 will be remembered for the average run of films . In the beginning of the month only ” Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns ” got favourable response from the critics and the public . ” Mere Dad Ki Maruti ” and ” Jolly LLB “ had slow starts but picked up miraculously with positive word of mouth . ” Himmatwala “ came towards the end of the month and bombed miserably .

The first quarter of 2013 can boast of only 7 hits and average hit films . They are : ” Jolly LLB ” , ” Special 26 ” , ” ABCD ( Any Body Can Dance ) ” , ” Kai Po Che ” , ” Mere Dad Ki Maruti ” , ” Table No. 21 ” and ” Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns ” .

Tweets

Tweets of eminent trade analysts Mr. Komal Nahta , Mr. Taran Adarsh and Ms. Bhawana Somaaya , which I re-tweet , present the current and authentic trend of film industry :

46 mins Komal Nahta ‏@KomalNahta

JOLLY LLB has some entertainment but ltd. b.o. potential.Read my review on at http://komalsreviews.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/jolly-llb-review/ …
3 hrs Komal Nahta ‏@KomalNahta

#meredadkimaruti : what an entertainer!! Entire team deserves a huge hug. Poor start but WILL pick up…
2. Komal Nahta ‏@KomalNahta 22 Mar
  
  RANGREZZ is too melodramatic for today’s youth. Read my review at http://komalsreviews.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/rangrezz-review/ …
  
  View summary
3. Komal Nahta ‏@KomalNahta 22 Mar
  
  AATMA does not send chills down your spine. Read my review at http://komalsreviews.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/aatma-review-2/ …

Mar 8 taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh

#IMeAurMain had a lacklustre weekend and maintained low figures on weekdays. Collected approx Rs 7.90 cr nett in Week 1.
Mar 8 taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh

‘The Attacks Of 26/11′ performed slightly better in pockets of Maharashtra and South India, but remained below the mark elsewhere.
Mar 8 taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh

#KaiPoChe [revised] collected approx Rs 16.42 cr nett in Week 2. Grand total: approx Rs 45.52 cr nett.

Mar 8 taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh

Update: #SahebBiwiAurGangsterReturns has tepid start in morning shows! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/update/id/313/date/2013-03-08 …
1. 7 hrs taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  #SahebBiwiAurGangsterReturns collected approx Rs 12.75 cr nett in its opening weekend. Breakup:- Fri 3.50 cr, Sat 4.25 cr, Sun 5 cr.
2. 7 hrs taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  #KaiPoChe collected approx Rs 4.15 cr nett in Weekend 3. Grand total: approx Rs 49.67 cr nett.
3. 6 hrs taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  #SahebBiwiAurGangsterReturns, #KaiPoChe Boxoffice report! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/top5/id/946 …
  
  7m taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns’ collects Rs 18.25 cr in Week 1 – the detailed report! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/top5/id/947/date/2013-03-15 …
  
  52m taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  #MereDadKiMaruti movie review: A joyride. Mazedaar, masaledaar, full-on entertainer! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/551525#.UULkkNF11B8.twitter …
  
  1h taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  #3G movie review: It doesn’t work despite potential in its premise! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/551228#.UULclO7KjHY.twitter …
  
  13 Mar taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh
  
  #JollyLLB movie review: A power-packed courtroom drama. Just don’t miss this jolly good film! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/541266#.UUBiw5lAB1Y.twitter …

13h

taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh

#JollyLLB picked up substantially in evening/night shows across the nation. Collects *early estimates* Rs 3.12 cr on Friday.

#JollyLLB witnesses 40%-50% jump at plexes on Saturday. Collects 4.23 cr on Sat. Total: Rs 7.35 cr.
2. taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  ‘Jolly LLB’ 19.52 cr, ‘MDKM’ 8.09 cr, ‘3G’ 5.82 cr – the detailed report! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/top5/id/949/date/2013-03-22 …
3. taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  #3G collected approx Rs 5.82 cr in Week 1. Fri 1.10 cr, Sat 1.12 cr, Sun 1.40 cr, Mon 66 lacs, Tue 61 lacs, Wed 52 lacs, Thu 41 lacs.
4. taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  #MereDadKiMaruti collected Rs 8.09 cr in Week 1. Fri 1.03 cr, Sat 1.51 cr, Sun 2.05 cr, Mon 89 lacs, Tue 91 lacs, Wed 90 lacs, Thu 80 lacs.
5. taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  #JollyLLB Collected approx Rs 19.52 cr in Week 1. Fri 3.12 cr, Sat 4.23 cr, Sun 5.16 cr, Mon 1.90 cr, Tue 1.83 cr, Wed 1.76 cr, Thu 1.52 cr.
  
  taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  Update: #Aatma, #Rangrezz have lacklustre start! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/update/id/315/date/2013-03-22 …
  
  taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  #Rangrezz movie review: Impressive first half, loses focus in post-interval portions. One definitely expected more! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/553635#.UUvyDQd6xDg.twitter …
  
  taran adarsh ‏@taran_adarsh 22 Mar
  
  #Aatma movie review: Stands on a weak script. Besides, there are hardly any scares here. Disappointing! http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/553290#.UUvwMTLL2iw.twitter …

Bhawana Somaaya ‏@BhawanaSomaaya 18 Mar

Saheb Biwi Gangster Returns Day 1 collections: 3.25 CR. Weekend collection: 11.5 CR. Full week collection: 17 CR. Budget of film: only 4 CR
Bhawana Somaaya ‏@BhawanaSomaaya 18 Mar

Jolly LLB Fri collection:2.35 CR.Sat collection:3.10 CR.Wk end collection: 5.45 CRMere Dad ki Maruti Fri 2.5 CR. Sat 4.0 CR. Sun 4.8 CR nett

Bhawana Somaaya ‏@BhawanaSomaaya 3h

Finally Monday ka Mantra: Aatmaa Fri 1.5 cr Sat 1.6 cr Sun 1.9 cr. Total 9cr. Rangrezz fri 1 cr Sat 1.2 cr Sun 1.3 Total 3.5 cr.

===============

Obituary :

===============

B. M. Vyas :

——————————-

A veteran actor of mythological films and some social films , Shri B. M. Vyas died on March 11 , 2013 at the age of 93 .

Famous for his portrayal of Ravan in several mythological films , Vyas started his career with Chetan Anand’s ” Neecha Nagar “ but was noticed with Raj Kapoor’s ” Barsaat “ in 1949 . He acted in over 300 mythological and social films including films like ” Baiju Bawra ” , ” Do Aankhen Barah Haath “ and ” Sarawasti Chandra ” . His last big film was Shah Rukh Khan starrer ” Oh Darling Yeh Hai India ” .

=============================

New Hindi Film Releases & Me :

=============================

First Week – March 01

————————————————

1 – I , Me Aur Main ……………………………………………………… John Abraham

……………………………………………………………………………….. Sameer Soni

……………………………………………………………………………….. Raghav Sachar

2 – Bloody Isshq ………………………………………………………… Daisy Shah

3 – The Attacks of 26/11 ……………………………………………… X

Second Week – March 08

——————————————–——–

1 – Saheb , Biwi Aur Gangster Returns …………………………… Jimmy Sheirgill

………………………………………………………………………………. Soha Ali Khan

2 – Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga ………………………………………… X

Third Week – March 15

————————————————-

1 -3G ……………………………………………………………………. Neil Nitin Mukesh

……………………………………………………………………………. Mrinalini Sharma

2 – Jolly LLB …………………………………………………………… X

3 – Mere Dad Ki Maruti ……………………………………………… X

Fourth Week – March 22

——————————————–

1 – Rangrezz …………………………………………………………… X

2 – Aatma ……………………………………………………………… Amita Pathak

3 – Sona Spa …………………………………………………………… X

4 – Zindagi 50-50 …………………………………………………… Riya Sen

…………………………………………………………………………… Aarya Babbar

Fifth Week – March 29

——————————————–

1 – Himmatwala …………………………………………………….. Sajid Khan

In total …………… 13 …………….. films got released in March . Out of these ………….. 13 ………… released films ……….. 07 ………… films have …………… 12 ……………. persons , who are trained by me .

Out of these ……….12 ……… persons , Daisy Shah made guest appearance in ” Bloody Isshq ” . Raghav Sachar is the music director of ” I , Me Aur Main “ , Amita Pathak is the Ex. Co-Producer of ” Aatma “ and Sajid Khan is the director of ” Himmatwala “ .

Remaining ………. 08 ………. are actors .

==========================

New Regional Films & Me :

==========================

1 – Telugu : Sayali Bhagat is playing main lead in ” Blade Babji “.

2 – Telugu : Sayali Bhagat is playing lead in ” Inkosaari ” .

3 – Tamil : Sayali Bhagat is playing lead in ” Newtonin Moondram Vidhi ” .

4 – Bengali : Priyanshu Chatterjee is playing an important role in ” Shunya Awnko ” .

My ………….. 02 ………………. student in ……….. 04 ………….. regional film .

======================

TV Trivia & Me :

======================

1 – Sonali Bendre is judging ” India’s Best Dramebaaz “ on Zee TV .

2 – Vivek Oberoi is judging ” India’s Best Draembaaz “ on Zee TV .

3 – Monica Bedi is playing an important role in ” Saraswatichandra “ on Star Plus .

4 – Resshmi Ghosh is playing an important role in ” Savitri “ on Life OK .

5 – Eijaz Khan is playing an important role in ” Shubh Vivah “ on Sony TV .

6 – Apurva Agnihotri is playing an important role in ” Aasman Se Aage “ on Life OK .

7 – Manav Gohil is doing ” Buddy Project “ on Channel V .

8 – Sandesh Gour is playing an important role in ” Sarawatichandra “ on Star Plus .

9 – Smita Pawar is playing an important role in ” Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajna “ on Sahara One .

My ……………. 09 ……….. students in ………… 07 ……………. shows on different channels .

======================

Theatre & Me :

======================

1 – Adhir Bhat is playing one of the leads in ” Gasha ” .

2 – Bhavna Pani is playing supporting role in ” So Many Socks ” .

3 – Veebha Anand is playing lead in ” Rishto Ka Live Telecast ” .

My …………… 03 ………….. students in ………….. 03 …………. plays .

It was such a satisfying month for me as an acting trainer or acting tutor [ as my detractors call me ] . My 12 students appeared in 07 films , 09 students in 07 TV serials , 02 students in 04 regional films and 03 students appeared in 03 plays also . Thus total number of students working in the month of March comes to 25 . Self-proclaimed most famous acting school of Mumbai , self-annointed most famous acting institute of India and self-appointed most famous acting academy of bollywood will fail miserably on this count .

I congratulate all my above mentioned students on behalf of all the current students and staff of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . May they shine in their chosen field . May , through their endeavour , our acting institute will one day become one of the most famous acting institutes of the world .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

Filed under: Film Diaries | Tagged: Aasman Se Aage, Aatma, ABCD - Any Body Can Dance, Acting Institute, Acting Trainer, Acting Tutor, Adhir Bhat, Amita Pathak, Apurva Agnihotri, B. M. Vyas, Baiju Bawra, Barsaat, Bhavna Pani, Bhawana Somaaya, Bollywood, Buddy Project, Channel V, Chetan Anand, Daisy Shah, Diction Trainer, Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Eijaz Khan, Film, Film Diary, Gasha, Himmatwala, Hindi Teacher, I Me Aur Main, India, India's Best Dramebaaz, Jimmy Sheirgill, John Abraham, Jolly LLB, Kai Po Che, Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi, Komal Nahta, KomalNahta, Life OK, Maharashtra, Manav Gohil, Mere Dad Ki Maruti, Monica Bedi, Most Famous Acting Academy of Bollywood, Most Famous Acting Institute of India, Most Famous Acting Institute of the World, Most Famous Acting School of Mumbai, Mrinalini Sharma, Mumbai, MUMBAI - MAHARASHTRA - INDIA, Neecha Nagar, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Obituary, Oh Darling Yeh Hai India, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Raghav Sachar, Raj Kapoor, Rangrezz, Resshmi Ghosh, Rishton Ka Live Telecast, Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga, Sahara One, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, Sajid Khan, Sameer Soni, Saraswati Chandra, Saraswatichandra, Savitri, Sayali Bhagat, Shah Rukh Khan, Shubh Vivah, Smita Pawar, So Many Socks, Soha Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Sony TV, South India, Special 26, Star Plus, Table No. 21, Taran Adarsh, Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajna, Veebha Anand, Vibha Anand, Vidur, Vidur Chaturvedi, Vidur in News, Vidur on Twitter, Vidur's Blog, Vidur's Film Diary, Vidur's Kreating Charakters, Vidur's News, Vidur's Students, Vivek Oberoi, Zee Tv | Leave a Comment »

Satyajit Ray v/s Steven Spielberg

Posted on March 23, 2013 by VIDUR [ Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA -INDIA MARCH 23, 2013 00.30 A.M.

Steven Spielberg came to India , he saw and he conquered . Every director worth his name in the Hindi film industry was present in the masterclass organized and arranged by Anil Ambani and chaired by none other than Amitabh Bachchan .

Steven Spielberg at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

His enviable body of work commands respect . Out of 31 films directed by him , 10 films are in the list of 30 all time greatest hits of Hollywood . I am providing the list :

Highest-grossing films of Steven Spielberg

This is a list of the top 10 highest grossing films which Spielberg directed. Spielberg’s films have grossed a total of more than $8.5 billion, with an average of $236 million per film.

Rank	Title	Worldwide gross	Year
1	Jurassic Park	$915 million	1993
2	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial	$793 million	1982
3	Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull	$787 million	2008
4	The Lost World: Jurassic Park	$619 million	1997
5	War of the Worlds	$592 million	2005
6	Saving Private Ryan	$482 million	1998
7	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade	$474 million	1989
8	Jaws	$471 million	1975
9	Raiders of the Lost Ark	$390 million	1981
10	The Adventures of Tintin	$374 million	2011

Is it not impressive ? Is it not enviable ? Is is not unattainable ? Yes it is !

But then there is an old allegation made by none other than our own Satyajit Ray . In the early 80s , Satyajit Ray said that , ” Steven Spielberg would not have made ” E.T. “ and ” Close Encounters of the Third Kind “ , if in 1960 , I have not left behind copies of my script ” The Aliens “ with Hollywood film studios . “

Cover of E.T. via Amazon

Cover via Amazon

The allegation is hard to prove , though it is supported by Arthur C. Clarke . In the March 17 , 2013 edition of Mumbai Mirror , eminent journalist Aseem Chhabra also claimed that in 1983 he had seen the script Of Satyajit Ray’s ” The Aliens “ and there were certain obvious similarities between ” E.T. ” and ” The Aliens ” .

Potrait of Satyajit Ray, painted by Rishiraj Sahoo in 1997 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aseem Chhabra also wrote that he interviewed Satyajit Ray at that time and his only regret was that after ” E.T. “ he could not make ” The Aliens “ , else he would have been accused of plagiarism .

I personally respect Satyajit Ray and Steven Spielberg , both . I don’t know what is the truth . It is for the historians to unearth the truth and bare the facts . But as a connoisseur , I cherished ” E.T. “ and ” Close Encounters of the Third Kind ” and would have loved ” The Aliens “ also .

I urge all my students of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters to watch and savour the films of these two great masters of cinema .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA