sTAR-sTuDDED TRIBuTE TO yAshJI

Yash Chopra, the late doyen of the Hindi film industry would have been impressed by the turnout for the tribute marking what would have been his 81st birthday. At an event organised by the respected filmmaker’s wife Pamela Chopra, nine actresses and his protégé Shah Rukh Khan took to the stage to showcase his contribution to Bollywood.

Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma and Parineeti Chopra, along with superstar SRK, to make the event a reminiscent and memorable one.

The event kick started off with Anushka Sharma walking the ramp as she paid tribute to late Nargis Dutt. Anushka donned a black sari with red bindi, while Parineeti Chopra, dressed in a heavy red ghagra choli, paid tribute to Madhubala.

Evergreen beauty Rekha came next draped in an elegant sari, while Sridevi, who is always remembered as the Chandni girl, donned a white semi ghagra sari with silver work all over and heavy jewellery.

Juhi Chawla wore a white and red semi chiffon ghagra, while Madhuri wore a transparent black sari with sleeveless blouse. The outfits were an eclectic blend of vibrant colours, sequenced handwork, dhakai arts, Kashmiri work among others.

Rani was resplendent in a pink ghagra choli with golden nathni (nose ring) minus other jewelry, while Preity wore a white lehenga choli with typical Kashmiri jewellery. The last actress to walk the ramp was Katrina who looked stunning in a brownish and cream ghagra choli. Shah Rukh, the only actor amidst this bevy of beauties, wore a black suit. Each participant remembered Yash Chopra through a small speech at the end of the show.

Rani Mukerjee was moved to tears as she recalled her association with the veteran film-maker. “Yash uncle I miss you a lot... please forgive me for not making cake for you last year as I was busy with my commitments... I miss you and we all love you,” she said.

However, veteran actress Rekha took to the stage with aplomb, grooving and delivering a dialogue from her film Silsila. Rekha, who is usually known as a very private person, displayed a different persona as she danced to the tune of Yeh Kaha Aa Gaye Hum from Silsila. Making the most of the moment, she also rendered the famous dialogue “Main aur meri tanhaii aksar yeh bateen karte hai,” as she walked the ramp.

It was a tribute worthy of the filmmaker, Yash Chopra would have been proud! RIP!

In addition to Vidya Balan and Mika Singh, even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee wished Lataji birthday wishes on her Facebook page saying, “I join her countless fans across the country captivated by her golden voice to wish her the very best on this auspicious occasion”. However, the iconic singer is currently in mourning and in no mood to celebrate the day. The death of her close family members has cast a gloomy spell on the singer.

Happy Birthday, Lataji, may the coming year be a good one for you!

R Madhavan rues Indian actors lack of international exposure

R Madhavan has taken a step into Hollywood with Night Of The Living Dead: Origins. He joins the league of Bollwood’s select who have made it to international screens.

Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Irrfan have tasted the Hollywood flavour, but they’re clearly a few and far between. Madhavan says this is because Indian actors lack the capacity to establish themselves in an international set-up.

“We have a long way to go before actors in India can establish themselves (internationally) in a big way,” said Madhavan, who has delivered noteworthy performances in Hindi films like Rang De Basanti, 3 Idiots and Tanu Weds Manu. The multilingual star will be seen as a US marine officer in Simon West’s Hollywood film Night of the Living Dead: Origins Of Hollywood, the actor said: “Their market and technology is completely different from ours. I don’t think Indian stars have the bandwidth to go struggle and give screen tests there, leaving everything behind here”.

Nevertheless, there’s something about Hollywood actors that makes Maddy jealous! “I think the only thing which I am jealous about is that if I was an actor in Hollywood, with all the hit films which I have, I won’t have to work for another day in my life. Even if an actor has two hits in his life in Hollywood, he will never be poor,” he said.

“Technology-wise we are almost there. But the budgets over there are high (higher). It is very tough for us to make those kinds of films in our kind of economy. But even now we do make international level films,” said the 43-yearold actor.

He has just finished shooting Night of the Living Dead: Origins, a zombie film.

“It has been a huge learning experience and it was very exciting. I was very nervous as I had never shot like that before,” he said.

Madhavan is glad that the Indian film industry and the public have “been very nice with me”. “I am just keeping my fingers crossed for the future,” he said.

“For actors like me, nothing is enough. I want a lot more than what I get,” he admits.

Well, let’s hope Hollywood recognises your talent and offers you whatever you expect. Good luck, Madhavan!

John’s for wildlife

News around hunky actor John Abraham is always interesting, and he certainly has been enjoying his share of Bollywood’s buzz. The latest on John is that he has been chosen as the face of National

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Geographic Channel, and somewhat predictably, the actor says he is keen to make a film on wildlife.

“Wildlife is something that we have not attempted before. I would like to explore it... I would like to make a film on wildlife, but we have to work a lot on it. If we get a responsible producer who can produce such films then why not,” John said recently. The actor, who is also passionate about his bikes, says he is developing a script based on motorcycling.

“We are developing a script on motorcycling. It will take a year to complete it. It’s a very intense and serious film on motorcycling, for motor cycling fans. It will be a commercial film,” said John, who has produced films like Vicky Donor and Madras Cafe, which did surprisingly well at the box office.

But the actor says that he is not interested in being a part of any television show yet, as small screen formats don’t excite him. “I would not want to be a part of the small screen today. Look at the formatting on the small screen... it doesn’t excite me at all,” John said.

However, he is in complete support of Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor’s endeavour to bring about a change on TV through his desi adaptation of American thriller series 24. “The small screen is growing and I must compliment Anil Kapoor on changing the quality of programming on the small screen. I must say he is trying to make a difference. The quality of programming should change with ‘24’,” he said.

Who knows, perhaps one day John may grace the small screen with as much charm as he does on the large screen. Let’s wait and see what comes his way!

Make the most of technology, says Rahman

Twin Grammy and Academy Awards winner A.R. Rahman is a firm believer in the amalgamation of technology and talent. The maestro asserted that the Indian music industry is reaping the

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benefits of digitisation, contrary to the notion that technology has negative effects.

Rahman, who was in Kolkata, the first city on his month-long Rahmanishq tour, claimed that he was in favour of digitisation sweeping the music industry. He stated that it has not only made music of all forms accessible to listeners, but has also simplified the process of making music for composers.

“Hordes of music purists love to spend endless hours going on and on about how the age of digital music has completely ruined the art form, and that real music only exists in small, underground scenes,” Rahman stated. “However, the reality stands that thanks to these technological breakthroughs, for both the music fan and the music maker, the creative process and the act of listening to music are now easier, less constrained and more accessible than ever before,” Rahman noted.

“We are living in a society that is dominated by the digital age. So it is a natural progression that almost every element beautifully syncs together. We need to move beyond album covers,” he observed. On his tour that will also cover Visakhapatnam, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, Rahman hopes to give fans a chance to experience his music at its best, musically and technologically. “The concert capitalises on innovative neverseen-before technology, so that the audience can be overwhelmed with such knowhow at every stage of the concert,” said Rahman.

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Rahman reckons film music “is going to be one of the biggest industries in the world. In India, we have a pool of talent which requires professional channelisation to make this industry as colossal and independent as the film industry. While India has singers in every street, many of them performing Carnatic, or classical Indian music variety, the future lies in Indian cinema,” he claimed. Loved by audiences for juxtaposing different musical styles, Rahman, who became the first Indian to win the Golden Globe Award in 2009 for best original musical score in Danny Boyle’s movie Slumdog Millionaire

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Discovering a new technique of avoiding conversations from call centre operators has been a delightful experience

Phone calls from call centre operators have been the bane of my existence for some time now. They ring on my landline at the most inappropriate of times, like just before the school drop off or pick up, and invariably at mealtimes, interrupting my daily yell to get the TV turned off and hands washed.

A ringing phone is something that’s hard to resist and being techno-challenged, I can’t quite find the ‘ringer off’ button on my phone. If I do, it’s likely that I won’t remember how to turn it back on again. So to keep life simple, I just don’t try. This warped philosophy allows persistent call centre operators to try and talk to me about everything from solar panelling, new phone plans, cheap calls to India, sorting out my computer problems, and of course, invitations to free dinners and seminars.

I’ve tried everything from blocking my number to pretending I can’t hear them, to just not answering the phone after 5pm, but I sometimes have to bow to the inevitable and endure a frustrating conversation trying to convince them that what they’re offering is of no value, or interest to me whatsoever.

But recently, I inadvertently came across a new weapon. The phone rang as usual at 5:15pm on a Monday, while I was busy getting dinner organised downstairs. As the hands-free was upstairs, I asked my older son to answer it.

“Hello!” he bellowed into the phone, probably creating a sizeable crack in the caller’s eardrum. The phone was on its speaker, so I could hear the conversation.

“Is your mum home?” asked a male voice, somewhat testily.

“What?”

“Is – your – mum – home?”

“Vhott?” Even louder.

“Your MUM. Is your mum home?” asked the voice, practically yelling this time.

“Huh? Whaat?”

“YOUR MUM!”

“My mum? My mum?” As if he had any other!

“Yes, yes, your mum!”

“I can’t hear you, did you say my mum?” being told off by his dad, who had inadvertently called the landline one day and had been treated to a few vociferous ‘What’s’. He had taken pains to explain the fundamentals of politeness, especially when communicating with unknown people over the phone, some of whom mum works with. Apparently some of that had indeed, made sense.

“Please can I speak to your

“How are you?” asked a suave voice.

“I’m okay, how are you?” asked my son, polite for once.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Sid, what’s yours?”

Now this is still a hotly debated subject. Did they say ‘Matt’ or ‘Bert’? Whatever it was, my son burst out laughing hysterically, “Butt, Butt, his name is Butt!” he yelled joyously and his younger

I’m now thinking of enlisting the younger one to the task, particularly because he has his own charming brand of eccentricity that lies only within the comprehension of close family. He has ‘opposite’ days and ‘repeat’ days, among other strange and hilarious traits like wishing people ‘Happy Birthday’ when it’s the New Year, and vice versa. I can just imagine the conversations.

“Hello!” avatar.

At this point I would take the phone from him, and if the caller is still on the line doubting their sanity, I would take at least a couple of minutes to actually listen to their selling spiel. They would need convincing that the world is, as they know it, a normal place. So that they could hang up and confidently move to the next caller… you, I hope!