Entertainment Rahman, tujhe salaam!

“And finally today, in the spirit of friendship and goodwill, I am very pleased to make an announcement about one of India’s much loved sons. Oscar award winning artist, A.R Rahman, has generously agreed to offer a one off, free public concert, as part of the Sydney Festival in January next year. The NSW Government in conjunction with the Sydney Festival will host the event at Parramatta Park. Without doubt one of the world’s great talents, I am sure he will show Sydney why he is one of the all time highest selling recording artists…. and why this year Time magazine placed Rahman in the Time 100 list of ‘World’s Most Influential People’. I congratulate Mr Rahman for his leadership and goodwill. We all look forward to having him here next year.”

Excerpt from speech by Nathan Rees, MP and Premier of NSW, at the India Australia Friendship Fair on August 9, 2009.

Allah Rakha Rahman. AR Rahman.

Singer, musician, composer, record producer. Patriot and philanthropist. AR Rahman is all this, and much, much more. Time magazine’s assessment of the musician’s worth is truly accurate, as, apart from being a household name in India, AR Rahman is also a name to be reckoned with in the global music arena.

Winning Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire put this talented musician in the spotlight, but AR Rahman has been mesmerising Indian audience for a long time now. He has now become India’s leading icon, moving

SHERYL DIXIT on India’s leading musical genius who will rock Sydney with his song and rhythm next January the Big B reluctantly into the backseat in fame, talent and humility.

AR Rahman was born on January 6, 1966 as AS Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to a musically affluent Tamil family. He lost his father at a young age, and was raised by his mother Kareema (Kashturi, as she was called). He began training in music and obtained a scholarship to the Trinity College of Music, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.

… this free concert is so typical of the humble and unassuming AR Rahman, that his personality, stage presence and music will triumph.

In a career of just over a decade, AR Rahman has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide, and over 200 million cassettes, making him one of the world’s all-time top selling recording artists.

He has worked in various film industries and theatre, both in India and globally. In his youth, he played in the orchestra of MS Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, and accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L Shankar on world tours.

Music is in Rahman’s soul, and his indelible mark on India’s film industry can be seen through his work. He initially composed music jingles for ads, Indian TV channels and scores in documentaries, but his soundtrack for Mani Ratnam’s Roja won him the Best Music Director at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a firsttime composer. Since then, Rahman’s music for Hindi films like Lagaan, Bombay, Fire, Rangeela, Dil Se, Taal, Rang de Basanti, as well as a number of Tamillanguage films, won him fame and acclaim. He has a versatile and distinct style, combining western classical, carnatic, traditional/folk, jazz, reggae and rock music to his scores, giving them a unique feel and rhythm which almost instantly enthrals the listener.

Referred to as the Mozart of Madras by Time magazine, Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Mehboob, Vairamuthu and Vaali. His collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks, particularly with directors Mani Ratnam and S Shankar in the films Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and Sivaji.

AR Rahman is a force to be reckoned with on the international music scene as well. One of his first releases was the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003, after researching and utilizing Chinese and Japanese classical music. He co-scored the Shekhar Kapoor helmed Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007. His compositions have made appearances in Inside Man, Lord of War, Divine Intervention and The Accidental Husband. In 2008, he scored the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, for which he won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.

Music isn’t Rahman’s only forte, he has been involved in various charitable causes, lending his talent to raise funds for a raft of organisations. He was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO, in 2004. He has shown support to charities including Save the Children, India, and worked with Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam for his song Indian Ocean. He produced the single We Can Make It Better by Don Asian, alongside Mukhtar Sahota.

AR Rahman composed the theme music for a short film The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai. In 2008, Rahman, along with percussionist Sivamani created a song titled Jiya Se Jiya, inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot in various cities in India. He also made an album Vande Mataram (1997) on India’s 50th anniversary of independence which met with stunning commercial success.

Since the last six years, Rahman has performed three successful world tours of his concerts to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, UK, Canada, the US (Hollywood Bowl and 3d tour) and India.

Rahman’s last tour of Australia in 2005 sold to full houses in Sydney and Melbourne, and was such a success that Indian Link had called the euphoria “AR Rah-mania”.

And now, AR Rahman is set to rock Sydney in January 2010. What a fabulous way to begin the year! I can envisage the scene at Parramatta Park right now… overrun with fans of his music, thronging from all parts of Australia, and waiting to see India’s avatar of music work his magic. They will brave January’s searing heat, unexpected showers, the nightmare of finding parking or even standing space, but they will be there. I empathise with the organisers, handling a free concert by one of Indian music’s leading lights will be a logistical nightmare. Simply anticipating how many people will actually be there is a mind-boggling feat in itself. Add the stage set-up, technical, electrical and acoustic demands, as well as the pyrotechnics that accompany such a show, and you can bet that Parramatta Park will never be the same again. But this free concert is so typical of the humble and unassuming AR Rahman, that his personality, stage presence and music will triumph. After all, for him, it’s all dil se!

Salman aims to match AAA fame

Salman Khan, Bollywood’s macho man is ready to take on the character of Anthony in the remake of Manmohan Desai’s classic blockbuster film, Amar, play the character of Parveen Babi in the movie. Naturally, the three characters of Amar, Akbar and Anthony will be played by Salman and his brothers. While Salman will don Big B’s character, Arbaaz Khan will be the character played by Vinod Khanna, and Sohail Khan in Rishi Kapoor’s more promising filmi liaison. Sources say that she has signed up to work with none other than Shah Rukh Khan in an upcoming Yashraj film. Now it’s no secret that there’s no love lost between Sallu and King Khan, so the blow’s going to be to Salman’s ego. However, Katrina, smart girl that she is, has made it clear to her macho beau that when it comes to Bollywood, she’s out to do the right thing for her career. And now that she’s proved her acting talent in New York, working alongside John Abraham, another of Sallu’s so-called enemies, Sallu can’t impose any bans on her. Sources say that the mega-budget Yashraj flick has been in the pipeline for a while now, and has finally emerged, much to everyone’s relief. Poor Salman can’t do much, now that Katrina’s proved that she can keep her personal and professional lives separate, and still be successful. So will Katrina be able to make peace between the feuding Khans? Guess it takes a Kaif to know a Khan!

Akbar, Anthony. Sallu will play Amitabh Bachchan’s character, in an epic depiction of one of the Big B’s most celebrated roles.

Now Salman’s taking on a mega challenge, feels the industry, as he will find it hard to live up to the expectations of an eager audience. Not long ago, Ram Gopal Varma’s remake of Sholay bombed badly at the box office, despite Big B playing the character of Gabbar Singh. So sceptics in the industry aren’t putting too much faith in this remake. However, the project goes on with Salman and his brothers Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and even Katrina Kaif has been roped in to role. The role of Neetu Singh, who played love interest of Rishi Kapoor, is yet to be finalised. But the star attraction of the film isn’t the Khan brothers in full force, but an even more powerful avatar, that of Katrina Kaif. Sources say that she could well guarantee a success, with her screen presence and current popularity. So will Katrina pull a cat out of the bag? It won’t be a surprise if she does!

OKing Khan for Katrina

It seems that Katrina Kaif, Bollywood’s beauteous bombshell, is seriously trading in macho beau Salman Khan for a

OSwine flu doesn’t scare Bollywood

Bollywood’s leading film studios will continue with their shooting schedules though schools, colleges, cinema halls and malls in the city will be shut down for a week to contain the spread of swine flu. “All shooting schedules are going on according to previous bookings.

As of now, no shoots have been cancelled due to any flu scare,” said Parvesh Shinde, booking manager of Film City, in an interview.

Rajinder K. Ridlan, booking manager for Mehboob Studio confirmed, “All shootings are going on and no shoots have been cancelled.”

Said Sunil Amin, booking manager at Kamal Amrohi Studio, “This is already a laid-back period due to monsoons and recession and there is not much shooting happening. However, swine flu has got nothing to process as a film, if it has to be shot, will be shot under any circumstances. Hence everything is taking place as per schedule.”

A representative from Filmistan Studio confirmed that shooting for Himesh Reshammiya’s Radio will be on as scheduled. The source also informed that despite the filming alert, the studio was booked for Dharma Production’s Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan, in fact the set for the shoot was almost ready.

While Shinde and Amin didn’t reveal the names of the films currently being shot at their studios, industry sources said Mehboob Studios is booked for two films Salman Khan starrer Veer and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzarish. So will Bollywood escape the onslaught of swine flu? Fingers crossed, we hope so!

OAbhay to salsa for Ayesha

F rom salsa lessons to riding classesAbhay Deol, who is back here from New York to shoot for Ayesha, is well into readying himself for the film that is due to hit the floors later this month. Director Rajshri Ojha is set to direct the delayed project of Anil Kapoor’s production with Abhay and Sonam Kapoor. The film will be an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, about the perils of misconstrued romance.

“I know there were rumours about the future of the film. There always will be rumours about everything. I’m taking salsa lessons for my character from my choreographer Ashley Lobo. After this, I’ve to start taking riding lessons. So work is on full swing,” said Abhay, who made it big with Dev D.

The actor admits he hasn’t read Austen’s novel as part of his preparation for Ayesha “But all of Jane Austen’s heroes have some distinctive traits,” he was quick to add. Ayesha would seem like a far more conventional film than the quirky off- mainstream character he has been playing lately. “You forget, I started my career with a romantic comedy, in Socha Na Tha’,” Abhay said.

Ayesha will be shot in Delhi, Mumbai and Hrishikesh, which means that Abhay will be in India for a while. “I’ve got to return to the US in October. I’ve other acting offers in Mumbai, but I’m in no hurry to sign. Right now I’m focussing on my production house, besides Ayesha,” revealed the actor.

Abhay wants to buy an apartment in New York, but the kind of money that he’s offered in Bollywood won’t pay for his new home. “I’ve looked at a place that I like in New York, but it’s too early to buy property. I need to earn the money first, which is why I’ve started my own production house Forbidden Films, so I can work for myself and pay myself with the profits and really get to know my market value. Everybody needs money. I’m not here for charity.”

Abhay has finished a script and is now looking at a director for his first production. Well, at least he’s honest!

OSave the environment, says Priyanka

Do your bit to save the environment even if it is a tiny step, urges actress Priyanka Chopra who is working for a greener tomorrow as the brand ambassador of NDTV-Toyota’s Greenathon II campaign.

“This is a fantastic initiative. I’m a part of the young generation who questions almost everything. But we need to understand that it takes little things for something to become big,” said Priyanka recently.

“Youngsters often ask‘What can we do?’ But I believe it is only the simple things we can do that can bring about a change. Get involved in such initiatives, spend a weekend doing something good for the environment and you will feel happy... let’s make the earth a better place,” she added.

The first edition of Greenathon, a campaign initiated by The Energy and

Resources Institute (TERI) in association with NDTV and Japanese auto giant Toyota, aimed to raise funds for the Light a Billion Lives project. The aim was to take solar lanterns to rural communities. The campaign ended up raising Rs.20 million and lit up 55 villages across India. Bollywood’s leading lights need to take their cue from Priyanka and make the world a better place, don’t you think?

OGovinda aala re!

T usshar Kapoor is happy with Govinda’s presence as co-star in the forthcoming Abbas-Mustan movie Life Partner and says the comic actor adds as much value to the comic caper as Salman Khan did in No Entry

Life Partner tells the story of two young men played by Fardeen Khan and me. And then there is Govinda who keeps coming in and going out of the scene, just as Salman did in No Entry,” said Tusshar.

“In No Entry, the story revolved around Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan, but no one could deny the importance of Salman in the film. It’s the same scenario in Life Partner too, where Govinda is an integral part of the plot,” adds Tusshar who is also working with Govinda in Run Bhola Run, a comedy. Directed by Rumi Jaffery and produced by Abbas-Mustan, Life Partner is due for release soon.

Talking about the three male protagonists in Life Partner, Tusshar said, “The best of the enterprise is the conflicting view that each of us has around marriage. Fardeen is quite flamboyant and believes in love marriage. He has a girlfriend (Genelia D’Souza), is very westernised in appeal, just as he is in real life too and has a free side to him. We play best friends in the film.”

Adds Tusshar, “While I play someone who believes in an arranged marriage and gets hooked up with Prachi Desai, Govinda doesn’t believe in marriage at all. In fact he plays a womaniser. As a divorce lawyer, he keeps advising Fardeen and me against the socalled evils of marriage. He loves putting a spoke in the wheel even though at heart he is still full of . Whenever he comes on screen, there is bound to be excitement amongst the audience.”

Tusshar, who featured in last year’s big hit Golmaal Returns felt that all three roles complemented each other without compromising their characters.

“The film shows conflicting point of views of three guys and to show the right contrast amongst them, you can’t play around with their screen time. It is very important to see that each marriage in the film is important. One has to enjoy all the characters otherwise the whole fun of watching the film would be lost,” he said.

Although reports on the film seem positive, Tusshar is cautious before jumping the gun and calling Life Partner a sure shot success way in advance. “There is no success formula. A few months ago it seemed like the comic genre was succeeding at the box office, so everyone rushed to make comedies. And instead, we saw huge box-office flops. You can’t be sure about anything. One can mainly concentrate on making a good film, promote it well, get a branding in place and leave it for the audiences to decide. Saying anything else in advance would be making an announcement too soon,” he claimed.

Looks like Govinda and Tusshar are set to become partners for life.

The Mahatma’s last journey

Bollywood seems all set to revisit Gandhigiri. But this time it’s debutant director Amit Rai narrating a part-factpart-fiction story on Mahatma Gandhi’s principles through his Road To Sangam, while telling the story of how a Muslim man restored the vintage Ford truck that carried Gandhi’s ashes in 1948. The director says he was inspired by a news story about the Ford V8 engine’s restoration by Allahabad-based mechanic Hashmat Ullah. He has roped in veteran actors Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Pavan Malhotra, apart from Gandhi’s grandson Tushar, who plays himself in the film.

“I got the idea for the film from a news story that came on NDTV over 2 years ago. It showed that the vehicle that carried Gandhi’s ashes in 1948 had been reduced to junk and was restored by a Muslim guy,” said Rai in a telephone interview.

The vintage vehicle was lying in a state of disrepair at a museum in Allahabad until Hashmat Ullah restored it. The remains of Gandhi’s ashes, which had been kept in the locker in Orissa, were carried on the same vehicle and immersed in the sea in Mumbai on his death anniversary on Jan 30, 2008.

ORoad To Sangam had its world premiere at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival and was also screened at the 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival to a “standing ovation and a second screening on-demand”. Celebrating the Mahatma in any form is an invigorating and inspiring experience. And Road to Sangam promises to be a winner.