Box Office Blues – December 2012

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           JANUARY 03 , 2013           11.55 P.M.

This is the 3rd blog in this category .

Only 7 Hindi films got released in December , 2012 . Winter chill in the north , public outcry and support for the unfortunate rape victim of Delhi and finally new year celebrations took its toll on box office and December 2012 had frosty effect on the box office collections .

” Khiladi 786 ” and ” Dabangg 2 “ were only exceptions . These two films garnered nice collections and in the final reckoning ” Dabangg 2 “ became the winner .

I am particularly pleased with the success of ” Dabangg 2 “ because it is produced and directed by my student Arbaaz Khan . Its costume designer Alvira Khan Agnihotri is also my student .

First Week – December 07

————————————————

1 – Khiladi 786 : This new film from the famous ” Khiladi “ franchise of Akshay Kumar earned 62 crores world – wide . It was made with the budget of 30 crores , so it almost earned double its investment . Thus it became the first hit of December 2012 .

This film was directed by Ashish R. Mohan . It is the 8th installment in the franchise after ” Khiladi ” [ 1992 ] . Other Khiladi films are ; ” Main Khiladi Tu Anadi ” [ 1994 ] , ” Sabse Bada Khiladi ” [ 1995 ] , ” Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi ” [ 1996 ] , ” Mr. & Mrs . Khiladi ” [ 1997 ] , ” International Khiladi ” [ 1999 ] and ” Khiladi 420 ” [ 2000 ] .

2 – 10 ML Love : This forgettable film directed by Sharat Kataria , has Tara Sharma as one of the female protagonists . She is daughter of Late Pradeep Sharma and a dear and old student of mine .

This film is a liberal adaptation of Shakespeare’s play ” A Midsummer Night’s Dream ” .

Second Week – December 14

——————————————–——–

1 – Cigarette Ki Tarah : This romantic thriller has Prashant Narayanan as one of the protagonists . This film was directed by Akashaditya Lama .

2 – Myoho : A dud of December . Myoho means Mystic Law . It was directed by Ranjan Shandilya .

3 – Four Two Ka One : A disappointing film of Jimmy Sheirgill . He is my student . I trained him for Aditya Chopra directed ” Mohabbatein ” [ 2000 ] of Yash Raj Films .

Third Week – December 21

————————————————-

1 – Dabangg 2 : It is the biggest hit of December 2012 . It is the sequel of  its earlier avatar ” Dabangg ” . Arbaaz Khan made his debut as a director with this film . This is the 5th consecutive 100 crore earner of Salman Khan . Film’s budget was 40 crore . Thus according to trade analysts it is a block – buster .

Nikitin Dhir played the antagonist and Alvira Khan Agnihotri is the costume designer of this film . Arbaaz , Alvira and Nikitan are my students . I am so happy for them .

This film also has Kareena Kapoor and Flora Saini in guest appearances . They both are my students . Thus ” Dabangg 2 “ has 5 students of mine . One super – hit and 5 students . It is heartening .

Fourth Week  – December 28

——————————————–

1 – Hansa : A small film from the stable of Manav Kaul , a known theatre personality .

In total …………… 07 …………….. films got released in December . Out of these ………….. 07 ………… released films ……….. 03 ………… films have …………… 05 ……………. personalities , who are trained by me .

Out of these ……….05 ……… persons , Alvira Khan Agnihotri is the costume designer of  ” Dabangg 2 ” and Arbaaz Khan , apart from being an actor is also the producer & director of ” Dabangg 2 ” . Remaining ……… 03 ……. are actors .

Kareena Kapoor and Flora Saini made guest appearances in ” Dabangg 2 ” . They are my students too .

I am happy for ” Dabangg 2 ” and all the 7 students of my acting school Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

May they achieve greater success in 2013 .

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

Ah ! Captain Saurabh Kalia , We Are Ungrateful

Captain Saurabh Kalia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 31, 2012           05.00 P.M.

Very few people in India remember Captain Saurabh Kalia or even know about him . It is shame , but it is true . Captain Saurabh Kalia was captured by Pakistani army during Kargil war of 1999 and was mercilessly murdered after brutal and inhuman torture . He was just 22 years old at the time of his death .

I have nothing new to say on Captain Saurabh Kalia’s case . I am re-tweeting some relevant tweets about Captain Kalia’s case from the twitter handle of Andhra Pradesh BJP IT Cell . I hope , for discerning and nationalist people , it will be a gentle and tearful reminder about the martyr . For heartless and emotionless brutes , nothing matters . For Congress , the Indian National Congress , the next election is more important and Captain Kalia can’t assure them victory . So for them he is not that important .

Andhra Pradesh BJP IT Cell , in fact , tweeted the verses of Venki . I was moved while going through the lines .

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Lets Hang our head in shame while we read these Verses by Venki about Capt Saurab Kalia’s Sacrifice 1/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just pluck your eyes out, Capt Saurabh Kalia, They gouged out ours too. 2/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we have been blind to your father’s agony, His cry for ‘justice’ for all these years? 3/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just pierce your eardrums, Capt Kalia, They poured hot oil in ours too. 4/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we be deaf to your mother’s fitful sobs And her pitiful cry of anguish? 5/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just burn your chest, Capt Kalia, They carved out our bleeding hearts too. 6/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we, as a nation, have been so heartless As to forget our Kargil war hero? 7/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just mangle your private parts, Capt Kalia, They castrated an entire nation. 8/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we be so impotent that we yearn for aman While they plot yet more jihadi crimes? 9/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

When they ambushed you in the Kargil heights, Capt Kalia, They waylaid every one of us. 10/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

But you died so that we may live Our shameless, ungrateful lives. 11/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

We sent you to war at age 22, Capt Kalia, Which is no viable diable age. 12/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

And yet, we have failed to honour you The way your father sought. 13/15

 

AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Shame on us – and , Mother India, That you would send your son to war And yet not collect his martyred ashes Or even shed a silent tear. 14/15

It is shameful that we have almost forgotten Captain Saurabh Kalia , a 22-year-old captain of our army and a martyr of 1999 Kargil war .

I have been often asked , why I keep on writing about matters other than actors , acting and acting institute ? My simple answer is that I want my students to know , apart from films , about our great nation , about the history of India and about the struggle of our national heroes . I am unable to think only about the next batch of my acting school or the coming films of my acting students .

I want my acting students to know about Captain Saurabh Kalia , a martyr , who sacrificed his today for our better tomorrow . On behalf of all the students and staff of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I pay my homage to the brave son of Bharat Mata .

Alas ! we have almost forgotten him .

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

• Kargil martyr case: SC issues notice to centre (vancouverdesi.com)
• Notice to Centre in Kargil martyr case (thehindu.com)
• India taking up Kalia case with Pakistan: Antony – Press Trust of India (ptinews.com)
• Army Chief pledges support to Captain Kalia’s family (thehindu.com)
• Kargil War hero Capt Kalia’s father moves UN (ibnlive.in.com)
• 13 yrs on, will Kargil hero Lt Saurabh Kalia get justice? (ibnlive.in.com)
• SC issues notice to Centre on Capt Kalia’s parents’ plea (ibnlive.in.com)
• Kargil hero’s father demands apology from Pak for torturing his son (ibnlive.in.com)
• We share your agony: Supreme Court to Kargil martyr Saurabh Kalia’s family (ndtv.com)
• Kargil martyr Captain Kalia may have been killed by weather: Pakistan’s Rehman Malik (ndtv.com)

Death of Delhi’s Girl Child : ” A Candle In The Wind “

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 29 , 2012           05.00 P.M.

Woke up today to the sad news of the death of  the unfortunate girl , who got gang raped in Delhi in a moving bus . She battled for her life for few days and finally succumbed to her wounds , physical and mental both .

I became numb . Shame and guilt engulfed me . In our religion we worship 51 SHAKTIPEETHAS , temples of goddess Durga , yet this happened . In our country even rivers and animals are called MATA , yet this happened . In our literature women are eulogized , yet this happened . Eons ago Manusmriti eulogized women as :

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते , रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ,

यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते , सर्वास्तत्रा  क्रिया अफलाः ।।

[ That house becomes abode of Gods , where women are worshipped . Everything fails in the place , where they get insulted . ]

Jay Shankar Prasad , a Hindi poet , also wrote about women in his epic book ” Kamayani ” :

नारी तुम केवल श्रद्धा हो , विश्वास रजत नग पगतल में ,

पीयूष स्रोत सी बहा करो , जीवन के  सुन्दर समतल में ।।

Durga puja at Burdwan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But it all seems in vain . Women are , in their daily life , subjected to rape , insult , verbal abuse and teasing . Their whole existence is at stake at their working places . In public transport they have to face leery looks of lecherous men .Voyeurism is prevalent in our culture and we do take voyeuristic pleasure while gaping at women . We eulogize women as Goddesses but the reality is pathetic .

Beggar Girl at one of New Delhi’s busy Metro Rail Stations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is unfortunate . Whatever happened was very unfortunate . But more unfortunate was the behaviour of our ruling oligarchs . Sheila Dikshit , the woman Chief Minister of Delhi , looked helplessly . Sonia Gandhi , the Chairperson of UPA and President of Congress made a pretence of meeting protesters . It is now alleged that they were members of NSUI , the student wing of Indian National Congress . Youth icon Rahul Gandhi is maintaining stoic silence . He does some drama of going to villages and eating and sleeping in the houses of Harijans whenever elections are round the corner . But a 23 old girl’s plight couldn’t move him . Most unfortunate behaviour came from Sushil Kumar Shinde , the Home Minister . He is a Dalit but was unable to empathise with the other weaker section , the hapless girl . President Pranab Mukherjee’s son is another nut case . His very unfortunate remark about some ”  …..dented and painted ……. women coming for few second’s fame ” is deplorable . Sanjay Nirupam also came to chip in . His remarks against Smriti Irani shows his male chauvinism .

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

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

Rahul Gandhi . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pranab Mukherjee, current President of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sanjay Nirupam , Congress MP (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Though the girl wanted to live , she is now dead . The ruling oligarchy is trying every trick in the book to save their skin . Delhi has become a war zone . India Gate is beyond reach of common people . Members of Congress are shedding copious tears . But everyone knows that these male chauvinist are just trying to gain time . Public memory is short and elections are still 2 years away . These morons know that by the time next general election is announced , this hapless girl child will be a forgotten news .

Today , when I was reading all the comments about this girl , I suddenly remembered Elton John’s song ” A Candle In The Wind ” . He had originally made it in 1973 for Marilyn Monroe  . He re – wrote the song in 1997 for Princess Diana . I am giving the original version . Words are still relevant , even though 39 years have passed and it was written for another person and in totally different circumstances :

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

These ominous words still haunt you . They are still relevant . I end my blog with agony , pain and head bowed in shame .

Good bye , young one ! You were destiny’s unfortunate child …….

And it seems to me , you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in

I have nothing more to say . If you stand for a girl child , I know what you can face . Whole system will gang up against you . Male chauvinist , their accomplices and their pathetic factotum , sycophants and fawning parasites will try to muzzle your voice . And voyeuristic India will only look with glee and sadistic pleasure . None will come forward to help . It will become a lonely , personal fight , an uneven , unequal battle .

But without caring for male chauvinist , I will try to inculcate these views of mine among the students of my acting school ,  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . So that , if needs be , they could be of some help to a girl child and just won’t be a moot spectator .

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/VidurChaturved

Related articles

• Delhi gang rape victim dies in Singapore hospital (ktrmurali.wordpress.com)
• ‘Gang Rape Victim,Delhi Dies’ Rape Pledge (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
• Silent protests across India over Delhi braveheart’s death (ibnlive.in.com)
• Thiruvananthapuram youth too join protests (thehindu.com)
• Gang-rape case: Despite barricades, Delhi sees protests (ndtv.com)
• Family hopes death will make India safer for women – Hindustan Times (hindustantimes.com)
• India appeals for calm after gang-rape victim dies (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
• Rape victim dies; India braces for protests (worldbulletin.net)
• #Delhigangrape victim’s body to be flown back to India today #RIP #Vaw (kractivist.wordpress.com)
• Delhi Gang Rape Case Death: Shinde says govt. will seek deterrent punishment for all accused (indiavision.com)

Understanding Tamil Nadu – [ 4 ]

CHENNAI – TAMIL NADU – INDIA           DECEMBER 26 , 2012           11.55 P.M.

 

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

 

After four days stay , I left Vaitheeswaran Koil in the afternoon and reached Chennai in the night . Sitting in the room of my hotel Golden Tower , I am writing the 4th installment of ” Understanding Tamil Nadu ” .

In my last 3 blogs I have tried to explain some of the misconceptions about Tamil Nadu , its leaders and general public . For the large sections of North Indian people the image of Tamil Nadu of 1965 is hard to forget . I think I have explained everything in detail about Tamil Nadu of 1965 .

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , Muthuvel Karunanidhi , Marudhur Gopal Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa Jayaram have dominated the Tamil Nadu scene since 1967 . They all jointly left Dravid Kazhagam led by Erode Venkata Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” a.k.a. E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” and formed Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam a.k.a. D.M.K. in 1949 .

 

M. G. Ramachandran, K. A. Mathialagan, C. N. Annadurai, C. Rajagopalachari, M. Karunanidhi at a private function in Jan 1968 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai a.k.a. C. N. Annadurai led D.M.K. to victory in 1967 elections and became the first non – Congress leader to form a majority government in any Indian state . He left Dravid Kazhagam and formed a new party because he was not willing to be part of anti national forces . He was against vivisection of India and was in favour of fighting elections under Indian Constitution . Atheism and anti – Hindi sentiments were the only two things which he accepted and borrowed from Dravid Kazhagam . He was instrumental in dropping the demand of independent Dravid Nadu of Periyar and berrying it forever in the pious land of Tamil Nadu .

C. N. Annadurai’s House in Kanchipuram

Anna Durai Memorial at Marina Beach

After his death in 1969 the post of chief minister went to Muthuvel Karunanidhi a.k.a. M. Karunanidhi . He followed almost same principles of C. N. Annadurai and atheism and anti – Hindi rhetoric still continues to be his credo .

But he has participated in the N.D.A. as well as U.P.A. governments of centre and his earlier bellicose attitude does not exist any more . A five time chief minister of Tamil Nadu is not the same M. Karunanidhi of yore . He is a changed man .

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

In 1972 Marudhur Gopala Ramachandran a.k.a. M. G. Ramachandran split the D.M.K. and formed Anna D.M.K. It was later on rechristened as All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam a.k.a. A.I.A.D.M.K. He is the only chief minister of Tamil Nadu , who holds the record of winning three consecutive terms as the chief minister . Though he followed atheism initially , but he was a practising Hindu and a follower of Bhagawan Muruga . During his regime , animosity towards North India disappeared and he followed a policy of no confrontation towards centre .

MGR Memorial

His successor Jayalalitha jayaram is a Hindu Brahmin and though she has not said anything openly but she is not an atheist . She is the only leader of prominence from Tamil Nadu , who can speak fluent Hindi . In my personal opinion she is only leader from Tamil Nadu who is capable of becoming the Prime Minister of India . I must say that she could , rather she should become the Prime Ministar of this nation . That day will be a red-letter day in our history and it will be a final blow to some of the misguided policies of E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” .

Jayalalithaa , Incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thus in Tamil Nadu of today a different picture emerges these days . Gone are the days of unnecessary bellicose attitude of Tamil politicians . Credit for this goes to Bharat Ratna M. G. Ramachandran . Again a personal opinion , but I think he would have been an excellent Prime Minister of India . But alas he died young . 70 is no age to go .

I will again say that Tamil Nadu is changing fast . Or it has already changed ?

I am waiting to narrate these findings to all the current students of  my acting school 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

60 Years of Film ” Jaal ”

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 08 , 2012           11.40 P.M.

After ” Aan “ and ” Baiju Bawra “ , the third most successful film of 1952 was Dev Anand starrer ” Jaal ” . It was written and directed by legendary Guru Dutt . This was Guru Dutt‘s second movie, after Dev Anand‘s production ” Baazi ” . After Baazi, this was the second film in which Dev Anand also came through as a confident star/actor, with a style uniquely his own.

It has some memorable melodies by music maestro Sachin Dev Burman , a Dev Anand regular . Lata Mangeshkar‘s 2 songs ” Chori Chori Meri Gali Aana Hai Bura …………………….. ” , ” Pighla Hai Sona Door Gagan Par , Phail Rahe Hain Shaam Ke Saaye ……………………….. ”  are still very popular . Kishore Kumar and Geeta Dutt’s duet ” De Bhi Chuke Ham Dil Nazrana Dil Ka ……………………… “  is my eternal favourite . But Hemant Kumar‘s ” Ye Raat Ye Chandni Phir Kahan , Sun Ja Dil Ki Daastaan ………………… “ is immortal and perennial favourite with the connoisseurs of Hindi film songs . It has several versions . Sung by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar separately , it has a duet version also by them .

Sachin Dev Burman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lata Mangeshkar as a young woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A typical crime thriller in Dev Anand style , ” Jaal “ was a far cry from swashbuckling  costume drama ” Aan “ and rustic , tender love story ” Baiju Bawra ” .World of Dev Anand was totally different from the world of Dilip Kumar and Bharat Bhushan . As I have written in my blog about ” Aan “ , I didn’t like the film when I watched it for the first time . But suave , debonaire , sweater clad and guitar strumming Dev Anand , playing a Christian character , became my instant favourite . Moon – kissed beach of Goa , Dev Anand’s immensely likable persona , Geeta Bali‘s vergin beauty and Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar’s etherial voice in  ” Ye Raat Ye Chandni Phir Kahan , Sun Ja Dil Ki Dastan ……………………….. “ had mesmerizing effect on my mind and the charm refuses to fade away even after 6 decades . Geeta Bali , again my favourite , was in full form in ” Jaal ” . Sachin Dev Burman’s musical genius was totally opposite of Naushad’s . Mohammad Rafi was as different from Hemant Kumar as North Pole is from South Pole . So the liking for ” Jaal “ , compared to ” Aan “ was much more . It is still one of my favourite films . Lata Mangeshkar is the only common link between all the three films and she was equally superb in all of them .

Apart from Dev Anand and Geeta Bali , it has K. N. Singh and Johny Walker also in the steller roles .

As I have stated in my previous blog , as an acting trainer , its my job to make my students aware of these iconic films and I do it regularly in my acting class in Mumbai .

I strive to make it a regular feature in my acting school Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

60 Years of Film ” Aan ”

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 07 , 2012           11.40 P.M.

Yesterday after posting my blog about ” Baiju Bawra “ , I started thinking about the other memorable films of 1952 . I suddenly remembered about ” Aan ” , the most successful film of 1952 . In terms of box office returns ” Baiju Bawra “ was second to “Aan “ . Therefore I thought that I should introduce a new category named ” Down The Memory Lane ” under the parent category ” Film ” and start writing about the other films of 1952 .

” Aan “ was produced and directed by legendary Mehboob Khan and it starred Dilip Kumar , Prem Nath , Nimmi and Nadira , who made her debut with this film . This lavishly mounted costume – drama was music director Naushad’s another hit in 1952 apart from ” Baiju Bawra ” .

” Aan ”  is India’s first Technicolor film and was the highest grosser of 1952 . Just like ” Baiju Bawra “ , I watched it in Allahabad during my Government Inter College days . Frankly speaking I didn’t like “Aan “ , when I watched it for the first time . I liked the songs of the film and the swashbuckling hero Dilip Kumar , but not the film . I couldn’t fathom death of Nimmi and the story line , where Dilip Kumar ignored her and went for Nadira , who was playing the princess .

Later on after repeated viewing and after knowing the fact that the story – line of “Aan “ was based on Shakespeare’s ” Taming of The Shrew ” , I came to realize that this swashbuckling hero is bound to go for the princess and not for the village damsel Nimmi , I was able to appreciate the story – line and finally the film .

“Aan “ has several memorable songs . Lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni were set to tune by Naushad . My eternal favourite even today is a Lata Mangeshkar gem ” Tujhe Kho Diya Humne Paane Ke Baad , Teri Yaad Aayi Tere Jaane Ke Baad ………………. ” . It has several other Mohammad Rafi gems like ; ” Maan Mera Ehsaan …………. ” , ” Dil Men Chhupa Ke Pyaar Ka Toofaan Le Chale ……………. ” , ” Mohabbat Choome Jinke Haath ……………. ” and ” Takra Gaya Tumse Dil Hi To Hai ………….. ” . But “Aan “ will always be remembered for its lavishly mounted Holi song picturization . The song ” Khelo Rang Hamare Sang Aaj Din Rang Rangeela Aaya ……….. “ is still popular and was lavishly picturized with hundreds of junior artistes . It has some of the hits of Shamshad Begum also . Most famous is ” Aag Lagi Tan Man Men Dil Ko Pada Thamna …………….. ” .

Incidentally ” Daag ” and ” Sangdil “ were other Dilip Kumar hits of 1952 . But I will write about them later .

As I have stated in my previous blog , as an acting trainer , its my job to make my students aware of these iconic films and I do it regularly in my acting class in Mumbai .

I strive to make it a regular feature in my acting school Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

60 Years of Film ” Baiju Bawra “

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 06 , 2012           11.30 P.M.

Today sitting in the office of my acting institute in Mumbai , I was going through some old issues of Screen . Suddenly I saw an article and came to know that the iconic film ” Baiju Bawra “ is now 60 years old . It was released in 1952 . It is the same year when I was born .

Baiju Bawra (1952 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

When I started following Hindi film songs in 1967 , I heard some of the songs of the film ” Baiju Bawra ” . In 1967 during my High School days , I didn’t know either Meena Kumari or Bharat Bhushan , the protagonists of ” Baiju Bawra ” . I was not even aware of Naushad or Shakeel Badayuni also , who gave music and wrote lyrics of the film respectively . I simply knew Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi , the singers of the film .

After passing High School from the Government Inter College , Deoria , I went to Government Inter College , Allahabad for intermediate in July 1967 . It was in Allahabad that I started following films religiously . There I watched ” Baiju Bawra “ and became aware of Meena Kumari and Bharat Bhushan . I became aware of the legendary status of Naushad and about the good work of lyricist Shakeel Badayuni .

Earlier I had heard the songs of ” Baiju Bawra “ but after watching the film , I started appreciating them in a more positive way . Mohammad Rafi’s ” O Duniya Ke Rakhwale ……… ” and ” Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj ……….. “ were my favourites and they still have same sway over me . They are my perennial favourites . ” Tu Ganga Ki Mauj , Main Jamuna Ka Dhara ……….. “ is hugely popular even today .

 

Meena Kumari (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Meena Kumari and Bharat Bhushan were not stars when this film was made with them . Naushad , Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi were the only known names and they were the only stars of this non – star cast film . Music of the film was hit and is still remembered by all the connoisseurs of Hindi films .

Musician Naushad (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lata Mangeshkar as a young woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mohammed Rafi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

All lyrics written by Shakeel Badayuni, music composed by Naushad.

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	“Tu Ganga Ki Mauj” (Raga Bhairavi)	Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
2.	“Aaj Gawat Man Mero Jhoomke” (Raga Desi)	Ustad Amir Khan, D. V. Paluskar
3.	“O Duniya Ke Rakhwale” (Raga Darbari)	Mohammad Rafi
4.	“Door Koi Gaye” (Raga Des)	Lata Mangeshkar, Shamshad Begum and chorus
5.	“Mohe Bhool Gaye Sanwariya” (Raga Bhairav with traces of Raga Kalingda)	Lata Mangeshkar
6.	“Jhoole Mein Pawan Ki Aai Bahar” (Raga Pilu)	Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
7.	“Man Tarpat Hari Darsan Ko Aaj” (Raga Malkauns)	Mohammad Rafi
8.	“Bachpan Ki Muhabbat” (Based on Maand)	Lata Mangeshkar
9.	“Insaan Bano” (Raga Todi)	Mohammad Rafi
10.	“Tori Jai Jai Kartar” (Raga Puriya Dhanashree)	Ustad Amir Khan
11.	“Langar Kankariya Ji Na Maro” (Raga Todi)	Ustad Amir Khan, D. V. Paluskar
12.	“Ghanana Ghanana Ghana Garjo Re” (Raga Megh)	Ustad Amir Khan
13.	“Sargam” (Raga Darbari)	Ustad Amir Khan

This Vijay Bhatt directed film ran for 100 weeks and created history . It is so heartening to note that ” Baiju Bawra “ is now 60 years old and for a film connoisseur like me its magic refuses to fade away even after so many years .

As an acting trainer , its my job to make my students aware of these iconic films and I do it regularly in my acting class in Mumbai .

I , on behalf of all the students and staff of my acting school Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , express my happiness on this historic day .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi