अजय कुमार शर्मा

बैडमैन के नाम से विख्यात गुलशन ग्रोवर दिल्ली के एक बेहद गरीब परिवार में जन्मे और काफी संघर्ष के बाद उन्होंने सिनेमा में अपनी यादगार पहचान बनाई। 500 से ज्यादा फिल्में कर चुके गुलशन ग्रोवर केवल बॉलीवुड में ही नहीं बल्कि हॉलीवुड में भी बेहद सक्रिय रहे हैं । उन्होंने दुनिया भर के कई देशों की फिल्मों में काम किया है। 1970 के दशक में वह दिल्ली के त्रिनगर से अपना एक्टिंग करियर शुरू करने बंबई (अब मुंबई ) पहुंचे । माता- पिता ने उन्हें वहां भाग्य आजमाने के लिए केवल छह महीने दिए। वे बांद्रा के प्रसिद्ध मरीना गेस्ट हाउस में ठहरे जो उस समय फिल्मों में काम तलाशने वाले उन जैसे हजारों युवाओं के लिए एक सस्ता और सुविधाजनक अड्डा हुआ करता था।

तीन महीने के संघर्ष के दौरान उन्होंने महसूस किया कि एक्टर के रूप में अपनी ताकत और अपनी कमजोरियों को समझने के लिए उन्हें मुकम्मल ट्रेनिंग की जरूरत है। ट्रेनिंग में ज्यादा पैसे लगने थे, इसलिए पैसे तथा माता- पिता से अनुमति लेने वह दिल्ली वापस आए और एफ.टी.आई.आई से अभिनय का कोर्स करने के इरादे से पुणे पहुंच गए । लेकिन छात्रों की हिंसक हड़ताल के कारण यह पाठ्यक्रम बंद कर दिया गया था। तभी इसी इंस्टीट्यूट के एक्टिंग गुरु रोशन तनेजा ने अपना स्वयं का एक साल का एक्टिंग कोर्स शुरू किया। गुलशन ने रोशन तनेजा के एक्टिंग स्कूल में दाखिला ले लिया। इस बैच में अनिल कपूर, मजहर खान, सुरेंद्र पाल सिंह, मदन जैन, राजहंस सिंह और राजेश माथुर उनके साथी थे। वसीम खान उर्फ विक्की भी थे जो शशि कपूर के ड्राइवर के बेटे थे और शहजाद अस्करी भी जो अभिनेत्री मुमताज के भाई थे। कुल मिलाकर इस बैच में 20 छात्र थे। यहां रोशन तनेजा के अलावा एफ.टी.आई.आई से एक्टिंग का कोर्स करके निकले मिथुन चक्रवर्ती, ओम पुरी, गीता खन्ना और बेंजामिन गिलानी भी पढ़ाने आते थे।

एक साल खत्म होने के बाद काम की तलाश शुरू हुई । कोई काम न मिलने पर वे तनेजा जी के इंस्टीट्यूट में पढ़ाने भी चले जाते थे जिससे कुछ खर्चा- पानी निकल आता था। इसी बुरे वक्त में अनिल कपूर उनकी परेशानियां देखकर उन्हें दक्षिण की एक फिल्म में काम दिलाने का लालच देकर अपने साथ ऊटी ले गए। जबकि सच यह था कि अनिल कपूर उनका मन बदलने के लिए उन्हें अपने साथ वहां ले आए थे और फ्लाइट का टिकट भी उन्होंने खुद लिया था न कि किसी फिल्म निर्माता ने। होटल जाते समय यह सच जानकर गुलशन ग्रोवर को अनिल पर बहुत गुस्सा आया लेकिन अनिल उन्हें मन की भड़ास निकालने का कोई मौका न देकर जल्दी से होटल की लॉबी में घुस गए और वहां बैठे कई दक्षिण भारतीय सज्जनों से उन्हें मिलवाने लगे। इससे गुलशन का गुस्सा लगातार बढ़ता जा रहा था और उनकी आंखें अंगारे जैसी दहकने लगीं । वहीं बैठे एक सज्जन बालू महेंद्र का ध्यान उनकी दहकती आंखों की ओर गया जो मणिरत्नम के फोटोग्राफर थे। इस सब से बेखबर गुलशन ग्रोवर अनिल से लड़ने उनके रूम में चले गए।

अनिल जब रूम में आए तो दो लोग यानी मणिरत्नम और बालू महेंद्र उनके साथ थे। गुलशन अपने गुस्से को शांत करते हुए कमरे से बाहर निकल आए। बाद में उन्हें पता चला कि उनके जाने के बाद बालू ने अनिल से कहा की उनके दोस्त का चेहरा काफी दिलचस्प है और आंखों से अंगारे बरसते हैं। उन्होंने अनिल से पूछा क्या यह एक्टिंग कर सकता है तब उन्होंने बताया कि वे दोनों एक्टिंग स्कूल में क्लासमेट थे और वह एक बेहतरीन एक्टर है तब कहीं जाकर तमिल सिनेमा के विख्यात सिनेमेटोग्राफर, एडिटर, डायरेक्टर और राइटर ने अपनी पहली हिंदी फिल्म सदमा में उन्हें खलनायक बलुआ का रोल दे दिया। कमल हासन और श्रीदेवी की इस हिंदी फिल्म की काफी चर्चा हुई और गुलशन ग्रोवर का काम और नाम दोनों चमक उठे।

चलते चलते

गुलशन ग्रोवर की साइन की हुई पहली फिल्म रॉकी थी जो उन्हें तनेजा के एक्टिंग स्कूल में पढ़ाने के दौरान मिली थी क्योंकि तब संजय दत्त ने अभिनय की ट्रेनिग वहीं ली थी। रॉकी में उन्हें संजय दत्त के दोस्त जग्गी का रोल दिया गया था जो कि एक कॉमिक लव गुरु है जिसकी हर सलाह हमेशा फेल होती है। संजू के यह सभी दोस्त बाइक पर साथ-साथ धूम मचाते हुए और कई स्टंट करते नजर आते हैं। बाइक पर ही इन पर एक गीत भी फिल्माया गया था। फिल्म की शूटिंग शुरू होने से पहले जब मोटरसाइकिल स्टंट की तैयारी चल रही थी तब अचानक दत्त साहब को लगा कि गुलशन सहित अन्य दोस्त बाइक चलाने में ज्यादा कंफर्टेबल नहीं हैं । इसका कारण जानने पर पता चला कि उन सभी पर अपनी-अपनी बाइक नहीं हैं जिस कारण वह केवल स्टंट मास्टर के साथ थोड़ी देर ही रिहर्सल कर पाते हैं। यह जानते ही दत्त साहब ने तुरंत उन्हें और उनके अन्य दोस्तों के लिए दिन-रात चलाने और अपने पास रखने के लिए बाइकें खरीद कर दे दीं।

(लेखक, राष्ट्रीय साहित्य संस्थान के सहायक संपादक हैं। नब्बे के दशक में खोजपूर्ण पत्रकारिता के लिए ख्यातिलब्ध रही प्रतिष्ठित पहली हिंदी वीडियो पत्रिका कालचक्र से संबद्ध रहे हैं। साहित्य, संस्कृति और सिनेमा पर पैनी नजर रखते हैं।)

हिन्दुस्थान समाचार/मुकुंद

 Mona

Renowned art historian D C Bhattacharyya breathed his last on Saturday. A specialist in Indian iconography, he is recognised as an authority on Buddhist iconography.

Bhattacharyya served Panjab University for 35 years. He was a founder member of the Department of Fine Arts and was chairperson of the department for more than 12 years. He served various important assignments of the Government of India and of the Chandigarh Administration. He was also the chairman of Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi for seven years.

Bhattacharyya authored 15 books, including Tantric Buddhist Iconographic Sources (1974), Iconology of Composite Images (1980) and Pratimalaksana of Visnudharmottara (1991). He contributed articles in the thematic exhibitions held under the aegis of the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh on diverse subjects, including epigraphy and numismatics. He also published more than 100 research papers in various national and international journals.

Bhattacharyya was awarded the John D. Rockefeller Foundation Research Fellowship for visiting various famous museums associated with Buddhist art collections. In this connection, he travelled extensively in the USA, UK, Thailand and Nepal. In view of the substantive contributions that Bhattacharyya made in the field of academics and research in art history, he was awarded by the Asiatic Society with the Life Time Achievement Award in Teaching and Research in 2008.

A pall of gloom descended among art lovers after his demise. Bheem Malhotra, chairperson of Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, recalls, "He was a founder member of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. He encouraged artistes and his command over his subject was superb. He could speak for hours on art and history. The loss to the world of academia and art history is immense."

Jagtej Grewal, chairperson, Department of Art History & Visual Arts, says, "As Dr Bhattachryya's former student, I fondly remember his engaging teaching style, in-depth knowledge and the willingness to share his insights."

Artist Diwan Manna, currently president of the Punjab Lalit Kala Academi, says, "Dr Bhattacharyya was an ancient Indian art history expert and along with Prof BN Goswamy, he set up the Department of Fine Arts, which is known for quality education. His passing away is a big loss. I met him several times in the past few years. Though he retired many years ago, he was mentally alert and inquisitive and always willing to contribute."

Bhattacharyya is survived by his wife Neelima Bhattacharyya and son Prof Tirthankar Bhattacharya.

Mumbai, Oct 30 (PTI) Bollywood stars Madhuri Dixit Nene and Karisma Kapoor on Sunday celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 1997 musical romance film “Dil Toh Pagal Hai”.

Released on October 30, 1997, the Yash Chopra directorial explored a love triangle between the members of a musical troupe — Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), Pooja (Madhuri) and Nisha (Karisma).

Madhuri took to her official Instagram account to mark the milestone and shared a video of hers dancing to one of the film’s songs “Are Re Are”.

“Celebrating 25 years of Dil Toh Pagal Hai with my favourite song of the movie. Which one is yours? #25YearsOfDTPH @yrf,” she captioned her post.

Karisma shared a series of pictures from the film’s set.

“Memories that last forever. #25yearsofdtph #timeflies #memoriesforlife @yrf @iamsrk @madhuridixitnene,” she wrote on her Instagram feed.

Production house Yash Raj Films (YRF) posted a montage of the film’s songs and memorable sequences on its official Twitter page.

“Twenty-five years ago… Rahul asked ‘Mohabbat kya hai?’ and ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ redefined love and friendship for all of us! Celebrating a movie that is close to all of our hearts combined #25YearsOfDTPH,” the banner said in a tweet.

Choreographer Shiamak Davar, who made his Bollywood debut with the film, told PTI in an interview that it was Shah Rukh who convinced him to choreograph the movie’s three songs “Le Gayi”, “Chak Dhoom Dhoom”, “Are Re Are” and the “Dance of Envy” sequence between Madhuri and Karisma.

“Somewhere, ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ was meant for me. And God does things like that. God always chooses where he wants his people placed. The best part is till today you can see the songs and not feel it is old fashioned… I chose to do what I am good at with ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’, with their songs and music, and luckily it all worked,” Davar said.

The remaining five songs, including the title track, “Dholna” and “Chaand Ne Kuch Kaha”, were choreographed by Farah Khan.

“Dil Toh Pagal Hai”, which had music by Uttam Singh and lyrics by the late Anand Bakshi, had opened to positive reviews and was the highest-grossing film of the year with close to Rs 60 crore in worldwide box office collection. PTI

Magan Mandir celebrated the contributions of Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri to Indian classical music in a programme held at Rabindra Sadan. Pandit Lahiri has left behind a treasure trove of compositions in thumri, dadra and geet-ghazal. Besides this, he has also enriched the oeuvre of Bengali ragpradhan — light classical — songs. His son, Shyamal Lahiri, and daughter-in-law, Mandira, took the responsibility of keeping alive compositions by Pandit Lahiri in the programme, Tribeni Tirtha Pathe Ke Gahilo Gaan — the hard work that went into organising this event was obvious. This title is taken from an iconic film song, which also reminded the audience of the deep connection that the stalwart shared with Bengali cinema and film music. The evening started with performances by the disciples of Mandira Lahiri — it was a well-coordinated medley with four different compositions based on the ragas, Patdeep, Gaud Malhar, Kedar and Durga. They were accompanied by Nabagota and Krishnendu on the tabla and Anirban and Diptam on the harmonium.

The vocalist, Suranjana Bose, took the stage next, singing songs of spring and monsoon; her voice was clear and generous. She was ably supported by Subhajyoti Guha on the tabla and Ritwik Mitra on the guitar. The next performance was by Anirban and Diptam (picture, left). They focused on Bengali ragpradhan songs created by Pandit Lahiri based on ragas such as Shiv-Sohagi, Jogmaya, Nand-Kauns and Panchameshwari. Their style of singing, coordination as well as expertise in this particular genre were striking. They were accompanied by Samir Nandy on the tabla, Shubhrangshu Mukhopadhyay on the harmonium and Sayantan Bijoli on the guitar.

This duet was followed by a performance by their guru, Mandira Lahiri, who sang several types of ragpradhan compositions like a kheyal-ang based on Raga Madhuvanti, a thumri-ang on Manjh Khamaj, an agamoni based on Raga Durga as well as a soulful presentation in Malgunji. Her smooth and spontaneous rendition was a treat for listeners. She was supported by Rahul Ganguly on the tabla, Ritwik Mitra on the guitar and Ratan Bhattacharjee on the harmonium. The evening concluded with a beautiful performance by Shriradha Bandopadhyay who chose compositions based on morning ragas like Lalit, Salag Varali Todi, Ahir Bhairav and Jogiya. Her sincere, melodious and impressive presentation enchanted the audience. The entire evening was woven together with narration by the senior elocutionist, Debasish Bose.

Studio SC Communication and Skinny Mo’s Jazz Club came together to pay homage to the late santoor maestro, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, through a concert titled Shraddhanjali. The programme was inaugurated with a vocal recital by Anol Chattopadhyay, who was accompanied by Kousik Banerjee on the tabla and Jyotirmoy Bannerjee on the harmonium. Chattopadhyay began his recital with a vilambit kheyal followed by a teentaal composition in Raga Rageshree. The intricacies in his singing and the clarity of his voice left their mark. He also sang the popular thumri, “Yaad piya ki aye”.

Tribute to the santoor maestro would have been incomplete without a santoor recital and Sandip Chatterjee (picture, right) gave an enchanting and mellifluous performance along with Subhajyoti Guha on the tabla. He rendered an alaap and jod in Bageshree, followed by a drut jhamptaal and a teentaal composition. He concluded with a popular dhun based on Mishra Pahadi.

Writer-Payel Sengupta  

 Actor Manoj Bajpayee has announced that his 2017 psychological drama film Gali Guleiyan will soon be available for streaming on Prime Video.

The National Award winner shared the news in a post on Twitter on Monday night.

"I couldn't have thought of a better day than today to share that our film Gali Gulieyan is releasing on an OTT, coming soon on Amazon Prime. One of the most challenging roles I have ever played," Bajpayee wrote.

Directed and produced by Dipesh Jain, the movie is about a man (Bajpayee) trapped within the walls and alleys of Old Delhi and his own mind, who attempts to break free to find a human connection.

Titled In The Shadows in English, Gali Guleiyan premiered at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival in 2017 and was also screened at the MAMI Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, Atlanta Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival.

Released in Indian theatres on September 7, 2018, the movie also starred Ranvir Shorey, Neeraj Kabi and Shahana Goswami in pivotal roles. 

As we wrap up a festive week and head to the end of October, here is a quick look at shows and movies arriving on various OTT platforms. This week, streaming platforms also have quite a few spooky and psychological thrillers, in case you are in the mood to celebrate Halloween.

Naane Varuven

Amazon Prime Video: October 27

The Dhanush-starrer released in theatres recently and garnered mixed reviews from the audience and critics. Dhanush plays a dual role in the film directed by his brother Selvaraghavan. Naane Varuven also features Elli AvrRam, Indhuja Ravichandran and Prabhu in prominent roles

The Devil's Hour

Amazon Prime Video: October 28

Season 1 of the Prime original psychological thriller revolves around Lucy who wakes every night at exactly 3:33 am. She is haunted by nightmares and eerie events, as she struggles to figure out what all these mean.

All Quiet on the Western Front

Netflix: October 28

Based on a German novel, All Quiet on the Western Front follows 17-year-old German soldier who lies about his age so that he can fight in World War I. But his initial excitement is brutally shattered by the grim realities of life in the trenches. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, will be Germany’s official entry for the 2023 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.

Run Sweetheart Run: Amazon Prime Video

Release date: October 28

This horror thriller follows a woman's fight after a seemingly romantic date goes horribly wrong. After what begins as dinner with a client, a single mom finds herself hunted by a monstrous and seemingly unstoppable assailant, reads the film's logline.

Jhansi: Disney plus Hotstar

Release date: October 27

The Telugu Hotstar original features the story of a fearless woman police officer named Jhansi, who cannot recall her past. With some high-octane stunt sequences, the film features Anjali, Chandini Chowdary, Adarsh Balakrishna, Raj Arun among others.

 Kumbalangi Nights

A warm hug of a film if ever there was one. This quiet stunner, directed by Madhu C. Narayanan, revolves around a family of four siblings living in the backwaters of a tiny village in Kerala. Saji (Soubin Shahir) and Bobby (Shane Nigam) never get along, and in the mix is the mute Bobby (Sreenath Bhasi) and the youngest Franky (Mathew Thomas). Gently flowing like the waters that surround these obstinate men, Kumbalangi Nights thoughtfully digs into the patriarchal network at play that has affected each one of them to some degree. The conflicts play out in the course of time. By the end, you feel as if you are part of the family and have known these brothers forever.

Lighting up a scene effectively is always tricky, but in certain situations, things become more challenging than usual. In these festive times, let’s take you through certain shoot experiences, where my amazing DOPs have created magic out of thin air.

Siva Ananth is known to don many hats. He’s a writer, lyricist, director, and actor. For Ponniyin Selvan, he functioned as an Executive Producer—having already done that for other Mani Ratnam films like Kaatru Veliyidai and Chekka Chivantha Vaanam.