Year End Musings : Vidur Acting Institute in 2016


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MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           JANUARY 30, 2017           11.40 P.M.

End of a year is the time to make plan for the coming year. But it is also the time to take into account the year gone by. People often forget this and they remain unaware of their downward slide if there are any. And thus they fail to make amends.

This is precisely the reason, I started chronicling my accomplishments and write about the year gone by. Here I am chronicling some shinning achievements of the past and also what happened to me on the career front in 2016.

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4 generations of NEW AGE Hindi film actors are my students. They are :

HRITIK ROSHAN – KAREENA KAPOOR

RANBIR KAPOOR – KATRINA KAIF

VARUN DHAWAN – ALIA BHATT

PULKIT SAMRAT – URVASHI RAUTELA

Apart from them, I have trained modern-day Telugu super stars like ; ANUSHKA SHETTY , ALLU ARJUN , NAG CHAITANYA , RAM CHARAN & ALLU SHIRISH . Current Bengali super star DEV is also my student.

 

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SUCCESS RATE : 2012 to 2016

Success Rate : 2012 – 2013 = 40 %

Success Rate : 2013 – 2015 = 55 %

Success Rate : 2015 = 62.35 %

Success Rate : 2016 = 72.60 %

 

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Films : Debut Till Date

Year ======== Actor’s Name ======== Film’s Name

[ From 2007  To 2016 ]

ARRMAAN RALHAN is the 24th student of Vidur Acting Institute, who is making debut as an Actor in a film called ” BEFIKRE “. It was released on December 09, 2016.

[ 24 Actors in 10 Years or more than 02 Actors every year ]

2007 = RANBIR KAPOOR – Saawariya // SONAM KAPOOR – Saawariya // NEIL NITIN MUKESH – Johnny Gaddar

2008 = ANUSHKA SHARMA – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

2010 = KATRINA KAIF – Raajneeti

2011 = KARTIK AARYAN – Pyaar Ka Punchnama – 1 // ZOA MORANI – Always Kabhi Kabhi

2012 = PULKIT SAMRAT – Bittoo Boss // VARUN DHAWAN – Student of the Year

2013 = KALKI KOECHLIN – Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani // URVASHI RAUTELA – Singh Saab The Great

2014 = DAISY SHAH – Jai Ho // PREETI DESAI – One by Two // TANVI RAO – Gulab Gang // BILAL AMROHI – O Teri ! // AYESHA KHANNA – Dishkiyaoon // ARMAAN JAIN – Lekar Hum Deewana Dil

2015 = TINA AHUJA – Second Hand Husband // ELLI AVRAM – Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon

2016 = SHEKHAR RAVJIANI – Neerja // PRAKASH JHA – Jai Gangaajal // SAIYAMI KHER – Mirzya // DIVYA SINGH – Ishq Junoon // ARRMAAN RALHAN – Befikre

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Serial : Total Debut

Year ======== Actor’s Name ======== Serial’s Name

[ From 2006 To 2016 ]

KRISH PATHAK is my 8th student to make debut in a serial in 11 years. It means more than 1 student every 2 years.

[ 08 Actors in 11 Years or more than 01 Actor every 2 years ]

2006 = PULKIT SAMRAT – KyunkiSaasBhiKabhiBahuThi

2008 = GURMEET CHOUDHARY – Ramayan

2013 = ELLI AVRAM – Bigg Boss [ Season 7 ]

2014 = ROHIT SHETTY – Khatron Ke Khiladi [ Season 5 ]

2014 = PRANALI GHOGARE – Mere Rang Mein Rangne Wali  // SAMRIDDHA BAWA – Mere Rang Mein Rangne Wali

2015 = ROHIT SHETTY – Khatron Ke Khiladi [ Season 6 ]

2016 = KRISH PATHAK – P. O. W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke

 

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2014 = PAWNI PANDEY – Gulab Gang [ Playback Singer ]

[ sung the song ” ……… Sharm Laaj Moh Maar Kar , Hata De Ye Pallu Jhaad Kar ………. “  ]

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Bigg Boss [ Season – 1 to 10 ]

Total number of my students, who participated in Bigg Boss

Season – 1 to 10, is 25

Bigg Boss – Season – 1 : Amit Sadh / Ragini Shetty

Bigg Boss – Season – 2 : Monica Bedi / Zulfi Syed

Bigg Boss – Season – 3 : Aditi Govitrikar / Shamita Shetty

Bigg Boss – Season – 4 : Ashmit Patel / Samir Soni

Bigg Boss – Season – 5 : Mahek Chahal / Amar Upadhyay

Bigg Boss – Season – 6 : Niketan Madhok / Karishma Kotak

Bigg Boss – Season – 7 : Tanishaa Mukerji / Hazel Keech / Apurva Agnihotri / Elli Avram

But ” Bigg Boss – Season 8 “ surpasses all the other seasons. It has 5 participants who are my students :

Bigg Boss – Season – 8 : Karishma Tanna / Minissha Lamba / Aarya Babbar / Pritam Pyaare / Upen Patel

Bigg Boss – Season – 9 : Kishwar Merchant / Rimii Sen / Vikas Bhalla

Bigg Boss – Season – 10 : Rahul Dev

 

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WORKING STUDENTS in FILMS : 2016

In total 172 Hindi films got released in 2016. It is heartening that 125 actors trained by me have appeared in lead role in these films. This makes my success rate 72.60 % in 2016.

I am providing the complete list.

January = Films Released : 18 / My Students : 11

February = Films Released : 16 / My Students : 19

March = Films Released : 18 / My Students : 07

April = Films Released : 17 / My Students : 07

May = Films Released : 17 / My Students : 07

June = Films Released : 17 / My Students : 14

July = Films Released : 14 / My Students : 17

August = Films Released : 16 / My Students : 07

September = Films Released : 13 / My Students : 08

October = Films Released : 13 / My Students : 08

November = Films Released :  09 / My Students : 13

December = Films Released : 04 / My Students : 07

If anyone would like to cross check, they can refer to Vidur’s Film Diary from January 2016 to December 2016. They can get names of the films and release date also.

 

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MISCELLANEOUS STUDENTS : 2016

1 – TV = My 29 students worked in various serials on various channels in 2016.

2 – AD = My 40 students worked as Brand Ambassadors of various products in 2016.

3 – THEATRE = My 16 students appeared in various plays in 2016.

4 – REGIONAL FILMS = My 6 students did lead roles in regional  films in 2016.

Thus in total 91 students worked in TV, AD, THEATRE & REGIONAL FILMS. If you add 125 students of films , this number comes to a whopping  216. 01 more than 2015 .

 

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SPECIAL PROJECTS : 2016

1 – Did workshop with YAMI GAUTAM for the role of a blind girl in the film ” Kaabil ” in February 2016.

 

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100 CRORE CLUB : 2016

Till date 50 Hindi films have earned 100 crore or more at the box office. Out of these 50 films, my 47 students are there in 44 films. Only ” Ghajini “, ” Holiday ” , ” Ek Villain ” , ” M. S. Dhoni : The Untold Story ” , ” Shivaay ” & ” Dangal “ are the films, which have no students of mine. In this field my success rate is unbelievably whopping 94 % .

 

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LIST OF NATIONAL FILM AWARD WINNER STUDENTS

Till date my 10 students have won NATIONAL FILM AWARDS in different categories. Out of these 10 recipients, 04 are actors, 03 are directors, 02 are producers and 01 is screenplay writer. Prakash Jha won the awards thrice. 02 as director [ SONAL & GANGAAJAL ] and 01 as screenplay writer [ APAHARAN ].

1 – 49th NATIONAL AWARDS 2002 : Prakash Jha – Director SONAL

2 – 51st NATIONAL AWARDS 2004 : Prakash Jha – Director GANGAAJAL

3 – 52nd NATIONAL AWARDS 2005 : Saif Ali Khan – Actor HUM TUM

4 – 53rd NATIONAL AWARDS 2006 : Prakash Jha – Writer APAHARAN

5 – 56th NATIONAL AWARDS 2009 : Priyanka Chopra – Actor Fashion

6 – 56th NATIONAL AWARDS 2009 : Arjun Rampal – Actor ROCK ON

7 – 56th NATIONAL AWARDS 2009 : Jugal Hansraj – Director ROADSIDE ROMEO

8 – 58th NATIONAL AWARDS 2011 : Arbaaz Khan – Producer DABANGG

9 – 60th NATIONAL AWARDS 2013 : John Abraham – Producer VICKY DONOR

10 – 63rd NATIONAL AWARDS 2016 : Kalki Koechlin – Actor MARGARITA WITH A STRAW

 

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BATCHES : 2016

In 2016, Vidur Acting Institute churned out 07 Batches. [ 01 less than the previous year ] and 38 students got trained [ 05 less than previous year ] .

 

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AWARDS & ACCOLADES : 2014 to 2016

1 – Nagari Pracharini Sabha , Deoria conferred ” NAGARI SHRI ” Samman on September 14, 2014.

2 – Vishwa Hindi Sanstha, Canada gave ” SAMMAN PATRA ” on November 2015.

3 – M4U Entertainment , conferred  ” Top 50 Indian Icon Awards 2016 ” on July 29, 2016.

 

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Vidur Acting Institute Logo

 

silver-jubilee

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.viduractinginstitute.com

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www.vidurfilms.com

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Vidur Acting Institute & 10 National Film Awards


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MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           May 22 , 2016           11.00 P.M.

With this post, I want to tell the world that VIDUR Acting Institute  has a wonderful presence in the arena of NATIONAL FILM AWARDS.

This year in 2016 my student Kalki Koechlin won Jury Best Actor Award for her film ” MARGARITA WITH A STRAW “. When I read the news and started counting , I was surprised to note that till date my 10 students have won NATIONAL FILM AWARDS in different categories.

With Kalki Koechlin on the terrace of her apartment

With Kalki Koechlin on the terrace of her apartment

Out of these 10 recipients, 04 are actors, 03 are directors, 02 are producers and 01 is screenplay writer. Prakash Jha won the awards thrice. 02 as director [ SONAL & GANGAAJAL ] and 01 as screenplay writer [ APAHARAN ].

With Prakash Jha at the launch party of Jai Gangaajal

With Prakash Jha at the launch party of Jai Gangaajal

As I have decide to be truthful in all my reporting, I would like to confess that out of 10 NATIONAL FILM AWARD winning personalities, I have to share credit of 05 with Mr. Kishore Namit Kapoor as I trained them there as their personal acting coach. They are : Saif Ali Khan , Priyanka Chopra , Arjun Rampal , Arbaaz Khan & John Abraham . 

But the remaining 05 are my own students. They are : Prakash Jha [ 03 Time Winner ] Jugal Hansraj & Kalki Koechlin .

Kalki is a wonderful actor and her portrayals are always very poignant and sensitive. After her debut film ” Dev D ” , she was memorable in ” Margarita With A Straw “.

4

5

6

Satyameva Jayate

 सत्यमेव जयते

In the era of falsehood, VIDUR Acting Institute has chosen the tortuous path of truthfulness. In the season of deceit, VIDUR Acting Institute  has taken the pledge of being factually correct. You can go to the National Film Award website and can check and verify the below mentioned names of winners and their films. But do check the tall claims of so many other so-called “Best Acting Institutes of Mumbai” or “Best Acting Institutes of India”. Grill the so-called “Best Acting Trainers of Mumbai” or “Best Acting Trainers of India” and you will see through their hollow claims. That is the reason I say ;

सत्यमेव जयते नानृतम् ,
सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः ।
येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा ,
यत्र तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ॥

……………….. मुण्डक उपनिषद्

English Translation

Truth alone triumphs ; not falsehood.
Through truth the divine path is spread out ,
by which the sages , whose desires have been completely fulfilled, reach where that supreme treasure of Truth resides.

…………………………………… Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad

LIST OF NATIONAL FILM AWARD WINNERS

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1 – 49th NATIONAL AWARDS 2002 : Prakash Jha – Director SONAL

2 – 51st NATIONAL AWARDS 2004 : Prakash Jha – Director GANGAAJAL

3 – 52nd NATIONAL AWARDS 2005 : Saif Ali Khan – Actor HUM TUM

4 – 53rd NATIONAL AWARDS 2006 : Prakash Jha – Writer APAHARAN

5 – 56th NATIONAL AWARDS 2009 : Priyanka Chopra – Actor Fashion

6 – 56th NATIONAL AWARDS 2009 : Arjun Rampal – Actor ROCK ON

7 – 56th NATIONAL AWARDS 2009 : Jugal Hansraj – Director ROADSIDE ROMEO

8 – 58th NATIONAL AWARDS 2011 : Arbaaz Khan – Producer DABANGG

9 – 60th NATIONAL AWARDS 2013 : John Abraham – Producer VICKY DONOR

10 – 63rd NATIONAL AWARDS 2016 : Kalki Koechlin – Actor MARGARITA WITH A STRAW

Kalki Koechlin receiving award from President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee

Kalki Koechlin receiving award from President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee

I am so happy that my students are winning National Film Awards in such a large numbers. These awards are prestigious and are very much respected. Presence of my students in this list make me humble and motivates me to work hard and keep on reinventing myself again and again.

 

Vidur Acting Institute Logo

[ List of the award-winning films and actors has been taken from the website of National Film Awards. I express gratitude. ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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New Female Playback Singers of Hindi Films


MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           NOVEMBER 10 , 2012           00.35 A.M.

When ” Alam Ara ” , the first Indian talkie , hit the screen in 1931 , an era started , which could easily be called the era of singing stars . All the actors sang their own songs on the screen . Well known female stars of that era were no exception . From Devika Rani to Leela Chitnis and from Kanan Devi to lesser known starlets, every heroine worth the name sang their own songs .

English: Alam Ara poster, 1931.

Alam Ara poster, 1931. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Scene from the 1936 film Achhut Kanya

Ashok Kumar & Devika Rani in a Scene from the 1936 film Achhut Kanya (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kanan Devi

Kanan Devi (Photo credit: tonymitra)

Then came the era of Noor Jahan and Suraiya . Both were immensely popular stars and huge singers of their generation . Their songs and their films are still popular . Their retirement from the films finally brought an end to the glorious era of singing stars . Salma Agha , another singing star , came in ” Nikah ” [ 1982 ]  but it was an exception . Singing stars era had ended much earlier .

After the end of singing stars era , playback singing in films became popular . Rajkumari Dubey could be called the first female playback singer . She started her singing career in 1940 . Her songs with Mukesh in ” Bawre Nain “[ 1950 ]  are still famous and they are memorable . Modern day movie goer are familiar with her song from ” Pakeeza “[ 1972 ]  . It is ….. najaria ki mari mari more saiyan …….

Another playback singer from that era was Shamshad Begum . She rose to prominence with ” Khazanchi ” [ 1941 ] and ” Khandaan ” [ 1942 ] . Her career suffered major set back with the advent and subsequent supremacy of Lata Mangeshkar andAsha Bhosle . Amirbai Karnataki was another famous playback singer from that era .

Then began an era which is known as Lata Mangeshkar Era . She , along with her younger sibling Asha Bhosle , dominated the playback scene of Hindi films like a colossus for almost 5 decades .

English: Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Indian singer Asha Bhosle

Asha Bhosle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During their era many singers came and went into oblivion . Geeta Dutt , Suman Kalyanpur , Kamal Barot ,  Sudha Malhotra , Mubarak Begum and Sharda came and eclipsed quickly without leaving a mark .

In 70s , while Lata Mangeshkar was still reigning supreme , again a new crop of female playback singers emerged . Alka Yagnik , Sadhana Sargam , Kavita Krishnamurty andAnuradha Paudwal came , gave some memorable hits and faded into oblivion . Lata Mangeshkar still ruled and gave memorable hits like ; Yash Chopra directed  ” Veer – Zaara ” [ 2004 ] .

Now a new crop of playback singers are hovering on the horizon . Shreya Ghoshal has become numero Uno like Lata Mangeshkar and Sunidhi Chauhan has almost taken Asha Bhosle’s place . But there are other female playback singers  also . They are fast emerging on the scene .

ADITI SINGH SHARMA : With chart – busters like ; ” Aali Re …. ” & ” Dilli , Dilli …… ” in ” No One Killed Jessica “ and ” Chhoomantar ….. ” in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan , she became a singer to watch in future .

ALYSSA MENDONSA : Daughter of Loy Mendonsa of Shankar – Ahsan – Loy fame , she sang ” Uff Teri Ada ……. ” in ” Karthik Calling Karthik “ and immensely popular ” Khwabon Ke Parindey ….. ” in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara .

ANUSHKA MANCHANDA : She sang re-mix version of ” Dum Maro Dum …… ” with a rare conviction and forced everyone to take notice of her talent .

HARSHDEEP KAUR : With ” Katiya Karoon ….. ” of  ” Rockstar “ and ” Jugni ………….. ” of ” Cocktail “ , she hit big and is surely on her way to the top .

MAHALAXMI IYER : She hit the bull’s-eye with ” Ae Ajnabee ……….. ” in ” Dil Se ” , ” Sadka Kiya ………… ” in ” I Hate Luv Storys “ and hugely popular Punjabi numbers like ; ” Laung Da Lashkara ……. ” & ” Rola Pe Gaya …….. ” in ” Patiala House ” .

NEHA BHASIN : ” Kuchh Khas Hai …….. ” in ” Fashion “ and ” Dhunki Dhunki ……. ” in ” Mere Brother Ki Dulhan “ brought her on the top .

SHIPLA RAO : In a hit number like : ” Khuda Jane …………… ” of ” Bachna Ae Haseenon “ , she found her moorings .

SHRUTI PATHAK : With ” Marjaawan …………… ” in ” Fashion “ and ” Payaliya ………… ” in ” Dev D “ , she arrived and made her presence felt .

SHWETA PANDIT : She made her debut in Yash Raj Films ” Mohabbatein ” [ 2000 ] . From ” Mohabbatein “ to ” Mere Brother Ki Dulhan ” [ 2011 ]  , she had sung several hits in Hindi . She regularly performs with A. R. Rehman‘s stage shows also . She is extremely popular singer in Telugu films also .

With Shweta Pandit in My Office

With Shweta Pandit in My Office

In a way she is my student . Though she never took admission in my Acting Institute and didn’t come to my regular batch . But still she come to my institute whenever she is free and participates in the improvisation classes of my institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

I am happy for her and wish her greater success . I am sure in years to come she will be top playback singer of India .

I am happy that I have at least one student in playback singing field also .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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www.kreatingcharakters.net

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World of Designer Suits


MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           SEPTEMBER  25, 2012           00.20 A.M.

I was obsessed with suits since my childhood days . But I did not have any . During my childhood I had Sweaters , Chester and Jerkins as my winter – wears . I used to wear Coats also but they were rare . I have very early memories of woolen coats [ now known as Jackets ] , but Jerkins and Sweaters were my most favourite winter – wears .

I had proper suits at the time of my marriage . I got 3 suits stitched for myself and used to feel like a prince . Little did I realize that my so-called 3 suits were merely a blot on the name of suits .

When I came to Mumbai and settled here , I bought my first proper suit . It was Kuoton . Later on I got a designer for myself . His name is Sheikh and now he cuts suits for me and at least now I can claim that I have some fine suits in my wardrobe .

But the world of designer suits is very much different . In the world of designer suits , there are certain names , which stand out . James Bond is always associated with Savile Row Suits . In Great Britain Savile Row still reigns supreme .

English: Savile Row, a shopping street in Lond...

Savile Row, a shopping street in London (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Gieves & Hawkes on Savile Row 1 in Lo...

Gieves & Hawkes on Savile Row 1 in London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Savile Row 2

Savile Row 2 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Routes of Savile Row

Routes of Savile Row (Photo credit: NYSartorialist (Michael Cress Photography))

Abercrombie & Fitch, Savile Row, London

Abercrombie & Fitch, Savile Row, London (Photo credit: chrisjohnbeckett)

Savile Row

Savile Row (Photo credit: Oliver Joe)

But slowly the scenario changed and now Italy sets the world standard in suits . Giorgio Armani and Canali easily symbolized the best in Italian suits . Brioni , Zegna and Kiton are other names of repute .

In the September 09 , 2012 issue of  Hindustan Times Brunch , I read Mr. Vir Sanghvi’s article about Canali Suits and was tempted to write my encounter with suits . It is astonishing to know that Canali’s started stitching suits in a village called Lombardy in Italy in 1934 and the third generation of Canalis are  still doing the business with same passion and keeping the flag high .

I wont be able to buy a designer suit in near future but like famous watches which I intend to own , I would love to order a Made to Measure Canali suit at least once in my lifetime .

Hoping to happen it soon !

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

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Adieu Mr. Prabuddha Dasgupta !


MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           AUGUST 14 , 2012           00.30 A.M.

Prabuddha Dasgupta

Prabuddha Dasgupta

We lost our finest black & white fashion photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta on August 12 , 2012 . He died of heart attack at the age of 58 during a shoot in Alibaug near Mumbai .

Born in Kolkata , West Bengal in 1959 , Dasgupta started his life in Mumbai in the fashion industry as a copywriter and later on moved to fashion photography . In early 80s , he approached Mr. Mohammed Khan of Enterprise for a job as a fashion photographer . Though Mr. Khan wanted him to join his company as a copywriter only but later on acquiesced to hire him as a photographer , a decision he never lamented .

His first assignment was the print campaign for Pierre Cardin , the renowned French fashion designer . After this Prabuddha Dasgupta never looked back .

Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Apart from Enterprise , Dasgupta worked for The Times of India and Femina also as a freelancer .

Femina (India)

Femina (India) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

His culled and selected photographs were published in a book form by Viking Books and is titled ” Women ” [ 1996 ] .

Posting some of his black & white photographs , which are my favourites :

Maharani Gayatri Devi

Maharani Gayatri Devi

Image of An Anonymous Woman

Image of An Anonymous Woman

Image of An Anonymous Woman

Image of An Anonymous Woman

Image of An Anonymous Man

Image of An Anonymous Man

A Road

A Road

Nature

Nature

Ladakh

Ladakh

Urban Image

Urban Images

Lakshmi Menon , the famous model , was his model and muse .

With Lakshmi Menon

With Lakshmi Menon

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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World of Wrist Watches


MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           AUGUST 05 , 2012           02.20 A.M.

I have three fascinations in life , which are not known to many people . Some very close ones know that . I love PENS , WATCHES , STATIONARY & SHOES , and that too in the same order .

I have a large collection of pens . Some of them are really expensive . In my daily life I use two MONT BLANC pens . So one can understand my fad and fetish .

I do like watches and that too big ones . But this fetish of mine is still a fancy . All the famous wrist watches are very expensive and I am unable to afford them at present . I do wish to have them one day , but wishes are only wishes , and not reality .

Wrist watches came to our civilization quite late , though watches were always an integral part of our lives . From pocket watches to trench watches and from trench watches to present day wrist watches , they have metamorphosed a lot .

Pocket Watch

Pocket Watch

English: Trench watch (wristlet). The type of ...

Trench watch (wristlet). The type of watch used by soldiers and aviators during the World War I (WWI) – a transitional design between pocket watches and wrist watches, has features of both. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These days wrist watches are more of a men’s accessory than just a necessity . Almost every fashion designer , almost all the fashion houses have come up with designers watches with unheard of price tag .

I am listing some of the wrist watches , which caught my fancy and which are still beyond my reach .

1 – Omega : It needs no introduction . This legendary and most famous and hot favourite Swiss watch first made its appearance in the market in 1848 . It is associated to James Bond films . Its Omega Seamaster model has been used in many Bond movies . It has been associated with many sport events also , including Olympics . Its Constellation model is now ruling the market .

 

English: Omega Seamaster Seamaster 300 M Diver...

Omega Seamaster Seamaster 300 M Diver Chronometer (James Bond edition). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

2 – ROLEX : Again a timeless favourite of generations of connoisseurs , this British watch has now become iconic . It is popularly regarded as status symbol . Though much junior to others but it has gained a cult status . It first hit the market in 1905 . Its OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE JUST II is the collector’s delight .

3 – BLANCPAIN : This is in the market since 1735 .

4 – JAQUET DROZ : This Swiss watch first hit the market in 1738 . It is three years junior to BLANCPAIN . It opened its London factory in 1774 to meet growing international demand .

5 – Breguet : This luxury Swiss watch maker company is celebrating 200 years of its existence . It first came in the market in 1812 . ItsReine de Naples collection defines the brand today . In 2010 they introduced Haute Joaillerie Crazy Flower watch entirely paved in diamonds with 120 baguette diamonds . Its dial consists of 206 cut diamonds .Every movement of the wrist brings the diamond petals to life . ITS PRICE IS ON REQUEST .

5 – ULYSSE NARDIN : This Swiss watch is much junior to the above mentioned two watches . It came in 1846 .

 

Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Chronometer 1846.

Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Chronometer 1846. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

6 – TAG Heuer : This Swiss watch is ruling the market since 1860 . It is my personal favourite . Carrera is my much desired watch , which I wish to possess one day .

 

TAG Heuer Carrera automatic chronograph with t...

TAG Heuer Carrera automatic chronograph with tachymeter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

7 – CORUM : It is much junior in the hierarchy but it is very expensive . It hit the market in 1955 . Its ADMIRAL’S CUP Legend model made it overnight sensation . CORUM Golden Bridge Collection watches are fancied even by connoisseurs and they are really collector’s pride .

8 – PARMIGIANI FLEURIER : Though much junior compared to others , it came in 1976 . All the watches are hand – crafted and it takes 400 hours to create a single watch . This makes them exclusive . Toric , Kalpa and Bugatti 370 are their famous watch lines .

Exclusive watches come with fancy price tag and with such price tags of the watches , I know that I wont be able to possess even a single brand ever . But is there any harm in dreaming ?

Once during my teens , I possessed a hmt watch . Now I use TITAN . I have a ROLEX also . But definitely not the original one and that too was gifted to me by Perizaad Zorabian , a student of mine .

I think , I should finish my blog here and go to the dreamy and fanciful world of PENS and WATCHES and STATIONARY and SHOES .

[ I have culled the material from the August issue of Spice magazine and also from some other fashion periodicals . I express my gratitude . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

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