VIDUR Club Newsletter – [ 3 ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           NOVEMBER 04 , 2013           05.45 P.M.

VIDUR Club Newsletter [ 3 ]

[ September 2012 – August 2013 ]

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YEAR AT A GLANCE

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Total Number of Batches = 10

Total Number of Students = 59

Number of Current Students Working [ Only in Films ] = 22

Success Rate of Last Year = 40.00 %

[ 37.20 % Precisely ]

Script Based Workshop Done = 7 Films

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VIDUR Acting Institute BANNER – Training Students Since 1990

NO LIES , ONLY TRUTH

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Companies have tradition of publishing Annual Progress Reports for their  share – holders . Acting Institutes have no such tradition . Not even one acting institute of the world has done it ever .

Acting Institutes have only brochures . But brochures are published in bulk and very often they carry old information . Therefore I decided to establish VIDUR Club and publish Newsletter [ Internet Version ] / Booklet of Achievements [ Print Version ] of the previous year for the perusal of our past , present and would be students , friends & well-wishers , who reside in the 158 countries of the world .

When some upstart acting trainers revel in deception , it is prudent to become upright in dealings . When some upstart acting trainers revel in dishing out false data , it is advisable to come out with true facts & figures . When some upstart acting trainers revel in preposterous claims to lure and hoodwink gullible students , it is ethical and natural to remain transparent .

LET TRUTH PREVAIL

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Photographs of all the 10 Batches

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In the previous year  VIDUR Acting Institute has churned out ………. 10 ……………. batches . Total number of students in all these batches were ………….. 59 ………….

Please go through the photographs .

Batch No. 67

Batch No. 68

Batch No. 69

Batch No. 70

Batch No. 71

Batch No. 72

Batch No. 73

Batch No. 74

Batch No. 75

Batch No. 76

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Photographs of all the 22 Students , who are working in films

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Out of all the ………….. 59 ………….. students of VIDUR Acting Institute , ……………. 22 ……………. students are working in films . And  thank God ! it is not blink & miss roles in some shelved , forgettable films or some nondescript , episodic serials . They are playing either lead or parallel lead in these films . Thus a little less than 40 %  students of VIDUR Acting Institute are working in films .

Please go through the photographs .

Neha Trivedi of Batch No. 67 is playing an important role in ” Highway “ . It is directed by Imtiaz Ali of ” Rockstar “ fame . She also did a commercial  campaign for Domino’s Pizza .

Neha Trivedi – Batch No. 67

Miss Universe India 2012 Urvashi Rautela of Batch No. 68 is playing lead in ” Singh Saab The Great “ opposite Sunny Deol . The film is directed by Anil Sharma of ” Gadar “ fame . [ The film releases this month – November 22 , 2013 ]

Urvashi Rautela – Batch No. 68

Manmeen Gala of Batch No. 69 is playing parallel lead in ” What Happens 6 To 6 ? “ . The film is being made in Telugu and is directed by debutant Jagan Chhalla .

Manmeen Gala – Batch No. 69

Nitin Gowda of Batch No. 70 is a Kannadiga actor . He is playing lead in a Kannada movie ” Ringroad Shubha “ . The film is directed by debutante Priya Belliappa . It has unique distinction of being India’s first all-female-crew film .

Nitin Gowda – Batch No. 70

Riya Thakur of Batch No. 71 [ She re-joined me ] is playing main lead in ” Shukla Ji Street “ . The film is directed by Anil Mattoo .

Riya Thakur – Batch No. 71

Zoa Morani of Batch No. 75 is playing solo lead in ” Bhaag Johnny “ . It is directed by Shivam Nair and is written and produced by Vikram Bhatt .

Zoa Morani – Batch No. 75

Akriti Bisaria is of Batch No. 75 is playing solo lead in ” Kapat ” . It is directed by debutant Milinnd Sagar .

Akriti Bisaria – Batch No. 75

Bhavna Chugani of Batch No. 76 is playing lead role in ” My Idol “ . It is directed by Amit Sharma . She hails from Jakarta , Indonesia .

Bhavna Chugani – Batch No. 76

Mohit Pursani of Batch No. 76 is playing an important role in ” My Idol ” . It is directed by Amit Sharma . He also hails from Jakarta , Indonesia .

Mohit Pursani – Batch No. 76

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Private Students Working in Films

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Apart from above mentioned ………. 09 ……….. students from the batches , I also trained ………..13 ………… students privately for various films .

Please go through the photographs .

Tanvi Rao is doing a pivotal role in the film ” Gulaab Gang “ with Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla . The film is directed by Soumik Sen .

Tanvi Rao

Bilal Amrohi is grandson of legendary Producer-Director Kamal Amrohi of iconic film  ” Pakeezah “ . He is doing parallel lead in ” O Teri ! “ . The film is produced by Atul Agnihotri and directed by debutant Umesh Bisht .

Bilal Amrohi

Sirish Allu is a Telugu actor , who made his debut in ” Gouravam “ . He is son of Movie Moghul Allu Aravind and brother of Telugu Super Star Allu Arjun . The film is written & directed by Radha Mohan . It is a Telugu , Tamil bilingual .

Sirish Allu

Mia Evonne Uyeda , a French-Canadian national , is a former MTV V.J. She is doing parallel lead in ” Tere Bin Laden – The Third ” . The sequel is being made by the team of ” Tere Bin Laden ” .

Mia Evonne Uyeda

Lakshmi Rao is playing lead in a Telugu film ” What Happens 6 to 6 ? ” . The film is directed by debutant Jagan Chhalla .

Lakshmi Rao

Armaan Jain , grandson of immortal Raj Kapoor and cousin of Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor , is making debut in the Untitled film of Illuminati Films . It is being produced by Saif Ali Khan and directed by Arif Ali , younger brother of Imtiaz Ali . A. R. Rehman is giving music in this untitled film . Incidentally all the 4 artistes mentioned above ; Kareena Kapoor , Ranbir Kapoor , Armaan Jain and producer Saif Ali Khan , are my students .

Armaan Jain

Brazilian beauty Nathalia Martins is doing main lead in ” Guns of Banaras ” . It is being produced by Shaina Nath and directed by Shekkhar Suri .

Nathalia Martins

Apart from above mentioned ……… 07 ………. students , whom I trained privately ,  ……….. 02 ……… more private students of mine ; Sohoni Paul and Preeti Deasi are working in films .

Sohoni Paul is daughter of Tapas Paul , the superstar of Bengali films . She is doing ” Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa “ opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui . The film is directed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta .

Miss Great Britain 2006 Preeti Desai is currently working in ” One by Two “ opposite Abhay Deol . The film is directed by Devika Bhagat , the screenplay writer of ” Ladies vs Ricky Bahl ” and ” Jab Tak Hai Jaan ” .

I privately trained ………….. 02 ………… more students for various projects . They are :

Anupama Chopra [ Film Critic & TV Host of ” The Front Row “ ] 

Ganesh Hegde [ The Choreographer ].

I am also privately training ………….. 02 …………… more student for Diction . They are ;  Alia Bhatt and Aadar Jain , younger brother of Armaan Jain .

Thus the grand total of recent students , who are working in films is 22 .

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Photographs of all the 7 films , for which workshop has been done

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Apart from training above mentioned …………. 22 …………. students , last year I also did script-based workshop for …………. 07 ………… films . These films are ; Karan Johar’s ” Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani ” , Atul Agnihotri’s  ” O Teri ! ” , Anil Mattoo’s  ” Shukla Ji Street ” , Vikram Bhatt’s ” Bhaag Johnny ” , Rikku ji’s ” Guns of Banaras ” , Amit Sharma’s ” My Idol “ and Milinnd Sagar’s ” Kapat ” .

Please go through the photographs .

Kalki Koechlin in ” Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani “

Producer Atul Agnihotri & Lead Pair Pulkit Samrat & Bilal Amrohi during the Workshop of “O Teri !”

Workshop Team of ” Guns of Banaras “

Workshop Team of ” My Idol “

To further substantiate my standing as the acting trainer of India of 23 years of standing , here are links of the 21 newspaper articles , links of 04 online postings and links of 8 TV interviews :

Link of Articles in News Papers :
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1 – DNA article about Neil : http://bit.ly/Hnpnh #DNA

2 – Katrina Kaif perfects accent in 20 days- Hindustan Times:
http://bit.ly/bupljo via @addthis

3 – Screen article about Katrina :
Getting trained: http://bit.ly/dmi5FN via @addthis

4 – Times of India, Crest Edition article about Vidur : http://www.timescrest.com/society/ordinary-heroes-3151

5 – List on http://www.google.com :
http://goo.gl/lists/DLuC

6 – Mumbai Mirror article about Vidur , Hazel & Bodyguard : http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/20110302201103020640548027230e1e6/Lifting-the-haze-surrounding-Salman’s-Hazel.html

7 – Deccan Chronicle article about Vidur : http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/hyderabad/naga-chaitanya%25E2%2580%2599s-new-girl-193

8 – HT Cafe article about Vidur & Katrina Kaif : http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196265_192372140804702_101736989868218_450549_3700391_n.jpg

9 – HT Cafe article about Vidur & Dev Patel : Hindustan Times http://www.hindustantimes.com/Dev-Patel-learns-to-speak-English-desi-style/Article1-687884.aspx

10 – SHOWBIZ SPY article about Vidur & Dev Patel : http://www.showbizspy.com/article/231206/deva-patel-voice-coaching-for-actor-dev-patel.html

11 – THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY – LONDON article about Vidur & Dev Patel : http://gu.com/p/2zzmf/tw

12 – THE SIYASAT DAILY  article about Vidur & Hazel Keech : http://www.siasat.com/english/news/salman-khan-frantically-enamored-hazel via @AddThis

13 – DNA Article about Vidur : Of bhaiyyas, Bhojpuri and Bollywood connection – Entertainment – DNA http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_of-bhaiyyas-bhojpuri-and-bollywood-connection_1550949

14 – Indian Express Article about Vidur : Actors’ Laboratory – Indian Express: http://bit.ly/sLpy1c via @AddThis

15 – Sunday Indian Express Article about Vidur : Hindi Lessons for Chikni Chameli – Indian Express: http://bit.ly/xwQoX5 via @AddThis

16 – HT Cafe Article No. 1 about Vidur : Ram Charan trains in Hindi for Zanjeer remake – Hindustan Times http://lnkd.in/KYAnnp

17 – HT Cafe Article No. 2 about Vidur : Learning the desi lingo – Hindustan Times http://bit.ly/I8WXKS

18 – Screen Article about Vidur : Going Desi Cool – http://epaper.screenindia.com/137713/Screen-/19-25-July-2013#dual/52/1

19 – Dainik Bhaskar Article in Hindi about Vidur :
http://epaper.bhaskar.com/magazine/navrang-bollywood/299/03082013/mpcg/1/

20 – Divya Bhaskar Article in Gujarati about Vidur :
http://epaper.divyabhaskar.co.in/magazine/navrang/55/02082013/0/1/‬

21 – Mumbai Mirror Article about Vidur : http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/Zoa-goes-the-Kat-way/articleshow/24282486.cms
www.kreatingcharakters.net

Link of Online Postings :
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1 – A new post about Vidur :
http://movies.indiainfo.com/katrina-took-intensive-training-for-hindi-for-rajneeti-1221560.html

2 – IBNLive posting about Vidur : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dev-patel-had-to-take-lessons-in-english/144907-8.html

3 – DIGITAL SPY – LONDON posting on Vidur : Dev Patel takes Indian accent lessons http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/bollywood/news/a315893/dev-patel-takes-indian-accent-lessons.html via @digitalspy

4 – PRO BOLLYWOOD NEWS BLOG: VIDUR OF FILM STARS http://probollywoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/vidur-…

Link of Videos on YouTube :
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1 – DD NEWS :
http://youtu.be/w27yv87ZK5Y

2 – SAAM MARATHI News:
http://youtu.be/dsuxz2VoAhw

3 – E 24 Coverage (1st) :
http://youtu.be/i-9P3Kygoe0

4 –  ZOOM Coverage on Neil:
http://youtu.be/wou0c2cWZNM

5 – India TV News :
Katrina’s Hindi Guru http://bit.ly/9L7lDV

6 – E 24 Coverage (2 nd) :
http://youtu.be/xHkv02UrzaQ?a

7 – ZOOM Coverage on Katrina :
http://youtu.be/6Xu_xBHDQ1M?a

8 – Sahara Samay Coverage on Katrina : http://youtube.com/watch?v=iQXMABH56_Y

I hope this Newsletter will make matter easier for my past , present & future students as well as friends & well-wishers , who reside in 158 countries of the world . I have tried to make my point clear . For the hard copy [ Booklet of Achievements ] , you can contact my office in Mumbai . You can either collect it personally or it will be sent to you by courier .

I am not basking in the past glory . I am not listing shared legacy as my own . I am not resting on the previous laurels . Even after 23 years of continuous work and training artistes uninterruptedly , my journey has not reached saturation point . It continues unabated . It marches ahead vigorously . It still strives for excellence .

For me :

The past is a springboard , not a hammock ………….

The voyage has just started …………………………………

The saga still continues ………………………….

And Yes :

Dust has now started settling down …………………

Insignia of BRAND VIDUR

With this copy of VIDUR Club Newsletter – [ 3 ] , I make myself accountable to one and all and voluntarily submit myself  even for legal scrutiny .

I will see you very soon with VIDUR Club Newsletter – [ 4 ] .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacters

www.facebook.com/vidur.chaturvedi

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

google.com/+VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

19th Annual Colors Screen Awards 2013

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           JANUARY 13 , 2013           06.30 P.M.

Award season for Hindi films of 2013 has started . Screen Weekly , published by Indian Express group , was the first to announce its prestigious awards in various categories . Screen Awards 2013 was just held in Mumbai on January 12 , 2013 .

Among the winners there are 3 actors , who are my students . Ranbir Kapoor won the Best Actor [ Male ] Award for ” Barfi ! ” . He , along with Priyanka Chopra , also won Best Jodi of the Year Award . And Katrina Kaif won the Most Popular Actor [ Female ] Award for ” Jab Tak Hai Jaan ” and ” Ek Tha Tiger ” .

With Ranbir Kapoor before ” Saawariya “

With katrina Kaif In Her Apartment

19th Colors Screen Awards 2013

Winners

 

” Barfi! “ has been the movie of the year getting maximum awards .

Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor were the best jodi of the year 2012 – 2013.

Salman Khan won the most popular actor (male) award .

Katrina Kaif won the most popular actor (female) award.

Here is the complete winners list :

Best Film

• Barfi!

• Paan Singh Tomar

Best Actor (Male)

• Ranbir Kapoor (Barfi!)

• Irrfan Khan (Paan Singh Tomar)

Best Actor (Female)

• Vidya Balan (Kahaani)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)

• Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Talaash)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)

• Dolly Ahluwalia (Vicky Donor)

Best Background Score

• Pritam Chakraborty (Barfi!)

Best Editing

• Namrata Rao (Kahaani)

Popular Choice (Male)

• Salman Khan (Ek Tha Tiger, Dabangg 2)

Popular Choice (Female)

• Katrina Kaif (Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Ek Tha Tiger)

Best Sound Design

• Sanjay Maurya, Allwin Rego (Kahaani)

Best Production Design

• Kaushik Das, Subrata Barik (Kahaani)

Best Animation

• Delhi Safari

Best Marketed Film

• Barfi!

Best Action

• Shyam Kaushal (Gangs Of Wasseypur)

Best Costume

• Anaita Shroff Adajania (Cocktail)

Ramnath Goenka Award

• Gangs Of Wasseypur

Best Actor In A Comic Role (Male/Female)

• Abhishek Bachchan (Bol Bachchan)

• Annu Kapoor (Vicky Donor)

Best Lyrics

• Javed Akhtar – Muskanein Jhoothi Hai (Talaash)

Best Story

• Sujoy Ghosh, Advaita (Kahaani)

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Yash Chopra

Best Choreography

• Prabhu Dheva (Go Govinda, OMG: Oh My God!)

Most promising Newcomer (Male)

• Ayushmann Khurrana (Vicky Donor)

Most promising Newcomer (Female)

• Ileana DCruz (Barfi!)

Most promising Debut Director

• Gauri Shinde (English Vinglish)

Best Screenplay

• Sanjay Chouhan, Tigmanshu Dhulia (Paan Singh Tomar)

Best Jodi

• Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra (Barfi!)

Best Dialogue

• Bhavesh Mandalia (OMG: Oh My God!)

Best Music

• Pritam Chakraborty (Barfi!)

Special Award

• Amitabh Bachchan

Best Playback Singer (Male)

• Javed Ali – Ishaqzaade (Ishaqzaade)

Best Playback Singer (Female)

• Shalmali Kholgade – Pareshaan (Ishaqzaade)

Best Child Artiste

• Mohammad Samad (Gattu)

Best Actor in a Negative Role (Male)

• Tigmanshu Dhulia (Gangs Of Wasseypur)

Best Ensemble Cast

• Gangs Of Wasseypur

I have no audacity to declare my acting academy as the best acting academy of Mumbai or the best acting institute of India . It is definitely not the best acting school of Bollywood . My acting class is one among the many acting classes of Mumbai .

And also I have no time to celebrate the success of 3 /4 years old serials . I don’t have time for remembrances . At Vidur’s Kreating Charakters the Saga still continues . Through this blog I would like to celebrate the success of my students , Ranbir Kapoor , Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif , who got awards in January 2013 and are destined to rule the film industry for many more years to come .

I , on behalf of all the current students and staff of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , congratulate all the above mentioned award-winning personalities and my students.

May they shine in their chosen field .

[ I have taken the list of the winners from the blog posting of Nikhil on http://www.bollywoodtadka.com  I express my gratitude . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

• ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, Barfi’ rock Screen Awards (vancouverdesi.com)
• Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Barfi’ out of Oscar race (digitalspy.co.uk)
• Next romantic Idol of the B-town: Ranbir Kapoor takes on the Khans reign (bollywoodpage3.wordpress.com)
• Ranbir to perform with mom Neetu at awards function (vancouverdesi.com)
• Screen Awards: Salman wins the Most Popular Actor (ibnlive.in.com)
• Big B happy after winning the Special Screen Award (ibnlive.in.com)
• MY FAVOURITE HINDI MOVIES of 2012 (shyfyy.wordpress.com)
• Year of the dark horse (thehindu.com)

Longest Serving Chief Ministers of India

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 30 , 2012           11.57 P.M.

After Narendra Modi‘s emphatic and 3rd consecutive electoral victory in 2012 Gujarat assembly elections , I came across a very startling fact through news papers . Times of India reported that including Narendra Modi , at present we have 6 serving Chief Ministers in various states of India , who have won 3 consecutive terms .

Map of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is the list of 6 serving Chief Ministers , who have won 3 consecutive terms .

1 – Sheila Dikshit = Delhi – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 – to date ]

2 – Manik Sarkar = Tripura – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 – to date ]

3 – Naveen Patnaik = Odisha – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2000 – to date ]

4 – Tarun Gogoi = Assam – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2001 – to date ]

5 – Okram Ibobi Singh = Manipur – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 – to date ]

&

6 – Narendra Modi = Gujarat – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 – to date ]

It is very interesting to note that out of these 6 Chief Ministers ; 3 belong to Congress [ Indian National Congress ] , and 1 each to CPM [ Communist Party of India – Marxist ] , BJD [ Biju Janata Dal ] & BJP [ Bharatiya Janata Party ] .

Till date , there are only 13 Chief Ministers , who could win 3 or more than 3 terms consecutively . Here is the list :

1 – Jyoti Basu = West Bengal – 5 Consecutive Terms [ 1977 – 2000 ]

2 – Mohanlal Sukhadia = Rajasthan – 4 Consecutive Terms [ 1954 – 1971 ]

3 – Gegong Apang = Arunachal Pradesh – 4 Consecutive Terms [ 1980 – 1999 ]

4 – B. C. Roy = West Bengal – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1948 – 1962 ]

5 – K. Kamaraj = Tamil Nadu – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1954 – 1963 ]

6 – Vasantrao Naik = Maharashtra – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1963 – 1975 ]

7 – M.G. Ramachandran = Tamil Nadu – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1977 – 1987 ]

8 – Sheila Dikshit = Delhi – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 – to date ]

9 – Manik Sarkar = Tripura – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 – to date ]

10 – Naveen Patnaik = Odisha – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2000 – to date ]

11 – Tarun Gogoi = Assam – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2001 – to date ]

12 – Okram Ibobi Singh = Manipur – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 – to date ]

&

13 – Narendra Modi = Gujarat – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 – to date ]

If you dissect the list further , out of these 13 Chief Ministers ; 8 belong to Congress [ Indian National Congress ] , 2 belong to CPM [ Communist Party of India – Marxist ] and 1 each to AIADMK [ All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam ] , BJD [ Biju Janata Dal ] and BJP [ Bharatiya Janata Party ] .

I think in next assembly elections due in 2013 , this scenario is definitely going to change . 2 more BJP Chief Ministers are poised to win their 3rd consecutive term . They are , Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh , the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh respectively .

2013 assembly elections are going to unfold interesting chapter in the history of India .

It would be an interesting political story to share with my acting students of my acting institute  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

• Modi sworn in as Gujarat leader (bbc.co.uk)
• At Modi’s swearing-in, some clues about his NDA (thehindu.com)
• On victory margins, Jyotibabu is ahead by far (thehindu.com)

Vidur’s Travel Diary – 15 : Karaikal

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 28 , 2012           11.55 P.M.

Union Territory Puducherry is unique among all the states and Union Territories of India . It has 4 districts or regions but they are not contiguous at all . Puducherry , Karaikal , Yanam and Mahe are 4 districts of this Union Territory and they fall in 3 different states . Puducherry and Karaikal are in Tamil Nadu , Yanam is in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe is in Kerala . Though Puducherry and Karaikal , both are in Tamil Nadu but even they are not contiguous .

Map of India showing Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During my last visit to Tamil Nadu , I stopped at Puducherry , while returning from Vaitheeswaran Koil and visited many places . I have already written a blog about my Puducherry visit . That time I did visit Karaikal but could not write my travel diary about Karaikal because it was raining heavily and therefore apart from Shani Temple , I could not visit other places .

During my recent visit I visited only Beach Road in Puducherry and spent more time in Karaikal .

 

Old map of Karikal (Karaikal) when it was a French colony. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I took night flight to Chennai on December 21 , 2012 and reached there late in the night . Next day , on December 22 , 2012 , I proceeded for Vaitheeswaran Koil and after briefly stopping in Puducherry , reached there in the evening . From Vaitheeswaran Koil , I proceeded for Karaikal on December 25 , 2012 .

When you visit Karaikal please don’t forget to eat Karaikal Halwa . It is too yummy to skip . You are not supposed to not have it during your Karaikal visit , even if you are visiting Karaikal for a short period . ” Natesan Halwa ” is the most famous shop and it is 55 years old . It was stablished in 1957 and since then it is in business of making Halwa . There are other shops also on the same road . If you wish to explore , you could visit them .

A Road in Karaikal

Old Tiled Houses – Karaikal

Beach Road – Karaikal

Beach Road – Karaikal

At Beach Road – Karaikal

At Tsunami Victim Memorial – Karaikal

With My Wife At Tsunami Victim Memorial – Karaikal

Sangam of Arasalar River & Sea

The Promenade Near Beach

Government Buildings Near Promenade

With My Wife & Son At Saneeswar Bhagwan Temple – Thirunallar , Karaikal

A French enclave from 1673 till 1954 , it became part of India by a treaty of cession signed by the Indian and French governments in 1956 . It finally became Union Territory in 1963 . During French rule it was called Territoire de Pondichery . It was renamed Puducherry in 2006 .

Karaikal is 300 km. south of Chennai and 135 km. from Puducherry . From Puducherry or from Chennai , you can reach there by taxi . It is surrounded by Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu .

After visiting Saneeswara Bhagawan temple in Thirunallar , Karaikal , I returned to Vaitheeswaran Koil in the night . I don’t know whether I would be able to visit Karaikal again or not . May be yes , may be no .

I remembered these famous lines of Agyeya , which I always remember , whenever I return from a new place .

पार्श्व गिरि का नम्र चीड़ों में , डगर चढ़ती उमंगों सी ;

बिछी पैरों में नदी ज्यों दर्द की रेखा , विहग शिशु मौन नीड़ों में ; 

मैंने आँख भर देखा , दिया मन को दिलासा ; 

पुनः आऊँगा , भले ही बरस दिन , अनगिन युगों के बाद ;

क्षितिज ने पलक सी खोली , दमक कर दामिनी बोली ;

” अरे यायावर ! रहेगा याद ? “

………………………………………………..अज्ञेय 

[ Tenderness of mighty mountains reflected in pine trees ,

Upward moving pathways symbolizing my enthusiasm ,

River , flowing deep down like a line of pain ,

Tiny tots of birds sitting silently in their nest ,

I saw everything with contentment ,

Consoled myself , I would come again ,

After a year or may be after ages ……….

Horizon opened its eyes , lightning dazzled in the sky ,

As if saying ………………

O Wanderer ! Would you ever even remember ? ]

Visit to Karaikal gives me ample opportunity to tell some good tales to the students of my acting institute,  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Understanding Tamil Nadu – [ 3 ]

VAITHEESWARAN KOIL – TAMIL NADU – INDIA           DECEMBER 25 , 2012           10.55 P.M.

The political state of Tamil Nadu in India was created in 1969 when erstwhile Madras State was renamed (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After going through my two previous blogs on ” Understanding Tamil Nadu ” , I think that E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” and his various steps , which he took during his movements , would be properly understood out of Tamil Nadu also . His rationalism , espousal of self-respect , advocacy for women rights and eradication of caste system is epoch – making and has everlasting effect on Tamil people and Tamil Nadu .

A Young E. V. Ramasamy Naicker Periyar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

His works among weaker sections of Tamil Nadu , his efforts for the uplifting of lower castes , long subjugated by Brahmins , would be always held in high esteem and would be considered exemplary .

His untiring efforts for the uplifting of women bears indelible marks on the social psyche of Tamil society . Widow marriage , in my opinion , is his most colossal work .

He tirelessly worked for the eradication of child marriage . He espoused inter – caste marriages and opened many educational institutions for the weaker section of society .

It is not for nothing that UNESCO citation in 1970 described Periyar as ” the prophet of the new age  , the Socrates of South East Asia , father of social reform movement and arch enemy of ignorance , superstitions , meaningless customs and base manners .”

His blind opposition of HINDI , HINDU , HINDUSTAN somewhat darkens his other exemplary and far – reaching social works . It is this aspect of his personality and work that brings suspicion and doubt in the minds of large sections of North India . To understand Tamil Nadu better , let us take all the three causes of Periyar , one by one .

HINDI : I closely followed politics since my Allahabad days . I went to Allahabad in 1967 and it was the year when anti – Hindi agitation started in Tamil Nadu . I read many wicked stories published in the Hindi newspapers and magazines of those days . One story said that if you are lost and approach a Tamil speaking person for asking the right route , you will be unable to get an answer if you ask in Hindi . Even if  a Tamil speaking person knows Hindi , he won’t answer and will go away saying ” HINDI ILLAI ” .

I found this story false during my recent forays in the hinterlands of Tamil Nadu . If I approach a person for asking something and even if I ask the question in Hindi , I was not spurned . I get the answer in broken Hindi and that too with smiling face . Sometimes if the person genuinely doesn’t know Hindi , instead of running away , he tries to explain everything in fluent Tamil with lots of hand movements and facial expressions .

If Tamil people think that Tamil is an ancient language and it is older than Hindi , I think that we have to respect the sentiment . Tamil is used in every sphere of Tamil Nadu and you will hardly find signboards in Hindi but in my opinion that is absolutely fine . A particular language should be respected and should be used in the land of its origin . That’s the basis for the formation of linguistic states , which has been agreed by all the political parties .

HINDU : E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” was atheist for sure . Through his organization Dravid Kazhagam , he started denouncing Hinduism . It started with denunciation of Iyers and Iyengars , Brahmins of Tamil Nadu and culminated in processions , where idols of Ram , Sita and Lakshman were garlanded with slippers .

I can understand his dislike for Brahmins . I am willing to fathom his opposition of Sanskrit language also . I am willing to accept his credo of atheism . We in India have accepted Charvak , the first atheist , as a saint . But you can’t force your belief of not believing in religion on others .

He organized a procession to the Marina beach in 1956 , to burn pictures of Rama , the God . His followers broke idols in the temples , banished Brahmins from the every section of tamil society and organized Ravan Leelas .

But in my recent visits to the state , I found to my surprise that in every temple of Tamil Nadu  a serpentine queue of devotees are visible . It has to be seen to be believed . People come in very large numbers and they pray and worship . Temples are well maintained in Tamil Nadu and I can vouch that Hinduism is thriving in the state much vigorously . Dravid Kazhagam is now a smaller force and Tamil Nadu is as religious as any part of India . In following the tenets of Hinduism they are much ahead and dogmatically strict . On EKADASHI , I found people thronging the temples . I am yet to see same enthusiasm on EKADASHI in North India . Moreover the Tamil Nadu state emblem tells it in a more fitting way .

Emblem of the State Government of Tamil Nadu used by the state government for public notices in the press and for publicity purposes. The emblem of India is the image used on the India Wikipedia article. தமிழ்: தமிழ் நாடு அரசின் சின்னம். (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Burning effigies of Bhagawan Ram and other Hindu Gods and the days of celebrating Ravan Leelas are over . Atheism can be accepted , as Charvak was accepted in olden times and he was even called a RISHI .

HINDUSTAN : One of the most disturbing legacy of Periyar was to give a call for Dravid Nadu . He wanted to unite all the four provinces of South India and wanted this entity to be an independent Dravid Nadu .

But majority of his supporters revolted against this demand . In the leadership of C. N. Annadurai , they formed Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam and fought elections . Since 1965 either D.M.K. or A.I.A.D.M.K. rules the state and the demand of so-called Dravid Nadu is thrown somewhere in the trash bins of history .

But demand for separation from India is there in Jammu & Kashmir and all the provinces of North East India . They are more palpable . In fact these provinces are waging armed struggle against the nation . Then why to blame only Tamil Nadu ? There was just a demand and that too by just one organization , Dravid Kazhagam . And today Dravid Kazhagam is not a major force .

A very interesting fact of Tamil Nadu and Dravid politics is that Periyar was himself a Kannada speaking Kannadiga . One of the most successful chief ministers of Tamil Nadu , M. G. Ramachandran was a Kandy , Sri Lanka born and Malayalam speaking actor turned politician . current chief minister Miss Jayalalithaa Jayaram is also a Kannadiga and the irony of the situation is that she is a Brahmin . And she speaks fluent Hindi . Present day superstar Rajanikant , incidentally , is a Maharashtrian .

Jayalalitha , the current Chief Minister of , Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So the fort of atheism and anti Hindi these days is held by Muthuvel Karunanidhi only . But even his family members have changed . M. K. Stalin and Kannimozhi are not that dogmatic .

K. Karunanidhi, the ex Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So I am stating with all my knowledge accumulated during this visit that Tamil Nadu is changing . Or it has already changed ?

After my return , I would love to share these findings with all the current students of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

I Denounce Sanjay Nirupam’s Comment

 

VAITHEESWARANKOIL – NAGAPATTINAM – TAMIL NADU           DECEMBER 22, 2012           10.15 P.M.

 

I came to know about Sanjay Nirupam‘s comment about Smriti Irani through twitter . All of sudden there were outrage against Sanjay Nirupam and he started trending for few days .

Sanjay Nirupam (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He was originally with Shiv Sena . Then he left the Sena and joined Congress , the Indian National Congress . I don’t think it is change of heart . He definitely joined Congress for greener pastures .

Smriti Irani at BIG Awards Jury Press Meet. Photo: FilmiTadka (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Smriti Irani is a member of BJP , the Bharatiya Janata Party . She is a popular actress of television and essayed role of Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor‘s mega serial ” Kyonki ….. Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi ” .

Flag of the Indian National Congress (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Flag of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sanjay Nirupam and his other friends of Congress were definitely frustrated on the day when Gujarat election results were declared . Huge electoral gains for Narendra Modi made them a frustrated lot . So when both ; Sanjay Nirupam and Smriti Irani were participating in a debate on a popular news channel , Sanjya Nirupam commented , ” Aap Bhi To Paise Ke Liye TV Par Thumke Lagati Theen ……….. ” . This uncalled for slur expectedly drew widespread public outcry .

Instead of taking defeat gracefully and instead of showing sympathy for Delhi Rape Victim , Congress leaders like Sanjay Nirupam showed his petty mind and deep-rooted prejudices against female members of the society .

Narendra Modi has been elected by the public . There is no need for not accepting this verdict . If BJP can gracefully accept defeat in Himachal Pradesh , then why can’t Congress in Gujarat ?

And I or any conscientious citizen of India will say that rape is a slap on the face of humanity. So what if it happened in a Congress ruled Delhi ? Every leader of Congress should condemn this barbarous act .

But leaders like Sanjay Nirupam of Indian National Congress are giving went to his frustration and expressed their inner most feelings towards women on National television .

But what can you expect from the Congress , the Indian National Congress ? Here are some glaring examples :

1 – 80 plus Narayan Dutt Tiwari [ Ex Chief Minister of UP and Uttarakhand , Ex Union Minister holding very important portfolios and the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh ] , was allegedly indulging in sexual escapades in the Raj Bhawan of Hyderabad . You can find some videos of this orgy on YouTube .

2 – A middle – aged Abhishek Manu Sanghvi [ Supreme Court lawyer and spokesperson of Congress ] was allegedly seeking favour from another fellow female lawyer for making her a judge . Again CD is easily available and it can be viewed on YouTube .

3 – Paras Nath Maderna’s case is too recent and widely reported in the newspapers . So no need to say anything about it .

So Sanjay Nirupam is doing nothing new or unique . He , in fact , was following footsteps of his other more famous and illustrious leaders . Narayan Dutt Tiwari , Abhishek Many Sanghvi and Paras Nath Maderna are the flag – bearers of Congress , the Indian National Congress .

But irrespective of Congress culture , I condemn Sanjay Nirupam for his comment . You should be ashamed Mr. Nirupam .

At least you can say sorry even now .

I am sorry and saddened that film fraternity is maintaining stoic silence on the insult of one of its fellow member .

 

But I am not going to be silent . I denounce Sanjay Nirupam’s comment and seek an unconditional apology from him . I don’t want to involve my students and staff of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  in this . Because these days you could be arrested for expressing your feelings on internet .

I am posting this blog in my personal capacity and am ready to face the consequences . Mr. Sanjay Nirupam , I denounce you in no uncertain term .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

• BJP slams Nirupam’s remarks about Irani, seeks apology (ibnlive.in.com)
• Cong MP ticked off by party for remarks against Irani (thehindu.com)
• Nirupam sparks debate over politicians being sexist (ibnlive.in.com)

Shame on You Sheila Dikshit !

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 19 , 2012           11.59 P.M.

Sheila Dikshit is the Chief Minister of NCR Delhi . Sonia Gandhi is the Chair – Person of UPA and she is President of Indian National Congress also . Both are woman . Both recently went to Gujarat for electioneering and said that women are not safe in Narendra Modi‘s Gujarat . I am yet to hear about any rape case in Gujarat .

Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sheila Dikshit , Chief Minister of Delhi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aren’t they ashamed ? They are blaming Narendra Modi’s Gujarat , when girls are continuously being raped in Delhi under their nose . They are shedding copious tears for Gujarat and maintaining stoic silence in Delhi . They are not even emotionally moved . When a girl was raped last time in Delhi , Sheila Dikshit issued a statement that moving out in the night should be avoided. She , as the Chief Minister of Delhi , was not a bit concerned about law and order situation . She maintained that no rape would happen if girls don’t roam around in the night or venture out early in the morning .

The whole nation is aghast at the current rape of a girl in the moving bus in Delhi . But shameless politicians have again started playing their games . Statements are again being issued . Outrage is again demonstrated . Promises of swift action are again dished out . Visits of VIPs to the hospital has again started . But I know nothing is going to be changed .

When persons of the stature of Sonia Gandhi and Sheila Dikshit go to Gujarat and make false accusations for temporary electoral gains , you know that nothing will ever change because elections are not round the corner in Delhi .

I am reproducing the complete story , which I got from a friend on my BBM :

The full story – The bus driver ram singh went out with his 6 friends ( 2 rkp sabzee wale + all bihari ) the girl and the guy was called by the driver and were given proper tickets ( the bus was a school bus with black curtains .. Not permitted for transport use ) the girl was 23 a very good student and wanted to reach dwarka mor.
After they got in , the guys hit a rod on the guys’s head and threw him out , then raped the girl one by one which was moving continuously in the posh areas of delhi and ncr.
After raping her badly , one of them inserted a very long rod in her vagina which almost killed her and threw her out and ran away.

She was lying in the middle of the road hurt and nude.. Not even single person helped her or covered her for an hour.
When police came in no one helped them pick her up. They were just not interested at all.

The girl’s vagina + small and large intestine is totally damaged and she cannot live a married or normal life. Doctor said ” main bayan nahi kar sakta ki ussne kya kya zheela hai … Bolte hue muzhe dard hota hai “. She has gone in coma 5 times from 16th dec. She is unconscious , critical and is non stop crying. The ribs are damaged as well.

That’s the whole story
And that’s what delhi people are.
And her only fault was that she took a wrong bus!

I’m not ashamed to broadcast such a message to make people aware that what’s going on in our capital!! ‘So called capital’.                                    Sushma Swaraj demands death penalty for rapists (Delhi Rape Case). Agree or Disagree? Dont shy away and please your vote here.
{www.ndtv.com/article/polls/sushma-swaraj-wants-death-sentence-for-rapists-agree-or-disagree-306803}
Kindly spread the word. Help women live their life.

This is the message I got in the morning and I am reproducing it verbatim . I am aghast . I am ashamed . I denounce Sheila Dikshit in the strongest term . Heads must roll . Police Commissioner of Delhi must be held accountable for this heinous crime . A fast track court should be constituted and capital punishment should be awarded to these criminals .

Rape is crime against humanity . Rape is like crucifying Christ again and again . Rape should be  condemned in strongest term and no excuses should be made . It leaves a scar in the psyche of the victim . It is considered a social stigma . It has traumatized the hapless victims since time immemorial  .

Rape (Photo credit: Valeri Pizhanski)

I am sorry that when an innocent girl is fighting for her life and will always fight for her honour , if she survives , some Union Ministers were enjoying lavish dinner in a 5 Star hotel in same Delhi last night .

Need I say anything else ? Is there any empathy left in this world ? My emotional psyche is disturbed and wounded .

I denounce this incident in strongest term . I , on behalf of all the students and staff of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , demand Sheila Dikshit’s resignation and demand that Police Commissioner of Delhi should immediately be removed from his post and he should be held accountable for this crime .

Shame Sheila Dikshit , shame !! May God’s curse be on you for making Delhi , the rape capital of India !

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

• #Delhi rape highlights chronic women’s safety issues in India (kractivist.wordpress.com)
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• Four Suspects Detained in #Delhi Gang-rape Case #Vaw (kractivist.wordpress.com)
• Outrage over India bus gang rape (oddonion.com)
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• India’s ruling Congress leader visits victim of horrifying gang-rape (nzweek.com)