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UP-TO-DATE NEWS ON WHAT’S HOT AND HAPPENING IN B O llYWOO D

REEMA lAGOO (1958-2017)

The world of Indian theatre, film and television lost its favourite ‘Ma’ this month.

Reema lagoo died on 18 May following a cardiac arrest. She was 59. She breathed her last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital where she was rushed shortly after midnight.

Family members and colleagues from Hindi and Marathi film, stage and television industries turned up to bid a tearful adieu to Reema at her funeral. Daughter Mrunmayee lit the funeral pyre.

Reema had been at work till the night before on the set of TV show Naamkaran, in which she played antagonist Dayawanti. “Reemaji wanted to leave early on that last day due to a throat infection,” a source from the show’s unit told IANS. “She had come in a little late as well in the morning.”

Noted for her roles in Hindi movies like Rangeela, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Aashiqui, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Vastaav, Saajan, Kal Ho Na Ho, Reema became synonymous as Bollywood’s quintessional ‘Ma’ - a middle-aged, modern, understanding mother. She played on-screen mother to actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Kajol and more.

Starting her career as Baby Nayan Bhadbhade, a charming schoolgirl in Pune, Reema soon graduated to larger roles on Marathi stage and films, then television and Hindi-Marathi films, besides doing a 10-year long stint with the Union Bank of India from 1979. At that time, she competed with other bankers like Amol Palekar (of Bank of India) and Ashok Saraf (of State Bank of India), among many others, who later went on to become legendary actor.

On television, the actress was seen in prominent roles in Khandaan, Shrimaan Shrimati, Tu Tu, Main Main, Do Aur Do Paanch, and the ongoing serial Naamkaran. In Marathi, she gave notable stage performances in Ghar Tighanche Have, Chal Aatap Lavkar, Jhale Mokle Aakash, To Ek Kshann, Purush Buland and Vitho Rakhumai

Besides acting, Reema took keen interest in public activities, participating in several banking agitations. She sat on a dharna in 2013 to successfully stop demolition of the 80-year-old Bharatmata cinema hall in Parel, and joined a procession for the welfare of the dishoused millworkers of Mumbai a few years ago.

TA x FREE S ACHIN

The upcoming biopic on cricket legend and Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, Sachin: A Billion Dreams has been declared tax-free by four state governments - Odisha, Maharashtra Kerala and Chhattisgarh - so far.

The film is based on the life of Sachin Tendulkar and it is scheduled to release on May 26. It captures Tendulkar’s personal journey from childhood to an international cricketing icon.

The Indian cricket team got together in Mumbai to watch a special screening of the film ahead of its national release.

Earlier this month, Tendulkar also held a special screening for the Indian armed forces.

B EYOND BEAUTIFU l: M ANISHA KOIRA l A

It is not often a film comes along which is written specifically for older women. Manish Koirala’s Dear Maya looks to be one such.

Her flawless skin texture and glowing face had made her count as one of the most beautiful women in Bollywood. Now, in her comeback film, Manisha is happy to play a much older woman.

Manisha, who has been on a hiatus from the arc lights to battle ovarian cancer – gave herself uninhibitedly to her new role.

“I was on the lookout for a good script,” she said recently. “I wanted to explore something new, meaningful and different.”

In the film her character starts to live her life all over again in search of love, after getting some love letters from a stranger.

Does she find a similarity between Maya and herself?

“From my perspective, hope is the common element in both situations. Whether you are going through a tough situation in life, it is hope that will help you win the battle. The power of positivity will get you through... look at me!” smiled the actress.

Dear Maya, a low budget film, is helmed by young director Sunaina Bhatnagar.

“There was a sense of honesty in Sunaina and I knew it was a great script,” Manisha said.

Having started her career with the film Saudagar, Manisha acted in films like 1942: A Love Story, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Bombay, Dil Se… and Company, and worked with names like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay leela Bhansali, Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Verma among others.

It’s going to be great to see a talent like her back on screen.

Dear Maya is releasing on 2 June. Which makes us wonder – there’s a host of talent out there among our older female stars, perhaps our writers should produce works that will see them back up on the silver screen.

Zeenat, Hema, Jaya, Sharmila, or even a Padmini or a Poonam, in strong character-backed roles, telling older women’s stories… pipe dream?

B AAHUBA l I 2 ROARS ON

Twenty five days after its release, S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali

2: The Conclusion, continues its phenomenal run in cinemas across the country.

Having amassed over Rs 1500 crore and still counting, the film has crushed all existing box office records.

“The film in unstoppable in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, it has even beaten the record of Rajinikanth’s Enthiran, the sole Tamil film to have grossed over Rs 100 crore,” trade analyst Trinath told IANS.

In the Telugu states, the film has grossed over Rs 281 crore.

“It’s the biggest Telugu hit and it’s got no competition until the next major Telugu release which is easily a month away. While a recent Telugu release has opened well at the box office, its impact will have very little effect on the run of Baahubali 2,” a leading distributor told IANS.

In Kerala, where the film is inching close to breaking the record of Mohanlal’s Pulimurugan, it is going strong at the ticket window.

According to Global United Media, the film’s Kerala distributor, the film has so far grossed over Rs 60 crore.

In the US, Baahubali 2 is the first Indian film to mint over $20 million at the ticket window, according to its distributor Great India Films.

The Hindi version of the film, released via filmmaker Karan Johar, has netted a whopping Rs 478 crore so far.

Starring Prabhas and Rana Daggubati as the male protagonists, the film’s story is about the battle for the ownership of an ancient kingdom between two brothers.

The film also stars Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah Bhatia and Sathyaraj.

All I WANT IS MANGOES AT C ANNES!

All I Want, an Indian film directed by Venika Mitra, has won at Beyond Borders Diversity of Cannes Short Film

Showcase - an event independent of the ongoing 70th Cannes Film Festival.

“I am very surprised to know that out of the entire bunch of wonderful films, my film was declared the winner of the festival,” a delighted Venika told reporters. “I was shocked and checked my award on stage twice before accepting it!” She added, “It’s a great feeling to have your work liked by so many people. I hope that I live up to these expectations in my next project as well. I’m deeply grateful to all my crowd funders of the film.”

Oscar winning sound designer Resul Pookutty worked on the project as well.

The fest saw 231 entries from 30 countries across six continents participating. Out of these, only six films were selected in General Showcase category. It included projects from India, Greece, China, Canada and the US, and aimed at celebrating the work of talented filmmakers who give life to globally diverse characters, with stories that transcend boundaries.

All I Want talks about a purposeful, single minded and unwavering pursuit of a street urchin Ratan to buy one mango.

Asked about what urged her to make this film, Mitra said, “My motivation for this story is my love for mangoes. One day I gave some money to my bai (maid) in Mumbai to buy something for her daughters. She asked if I could buy her mangoes instead. That made me realise that something as small as a