Sometimes life is so uncertain, as a mourning Chauhan stated. The untimely death of the ‘handsome villain’ of Bollywood proves it true to the roots.

Nirmal Pandey was too young to be chosen for the trial of death. The whole Bollywood mourns through the tweets and blogs, the same slogan. Media proclaims that Nirmal Pandey was no more. Wrong! He is here, right in the tinsel world of stars which glitter through the hearts of those who have an eye for a video poetry to nip. The void he left is hard to fill. His young wife and two kids, they missed him really.

Who can forget the roaring Vikram Malliah, of the critically applauded block buster ‘Bandit Queen’? Who can forget the hijda (transvestite) of ‘Dayara’,Amol Palekar’s new born? And for the South Indians, Nirmal Pandey is synonymous with ‘kedi’, as his last appearance in the silver screen was a Telugu film, ‘Kedi’.

Actor

Nirmal Pandey was an actor par excellence, thanks to his stage back ups. Nirmal was an alumnus of National School of Drama hence the strong basement on the whole. More over, he has enacted in at least 125 stage plays before and after entering into the luring filmdom. Nirmal was a true artist, a right performer. That made him the dearest villain of Bollywood.

With his unconventional looks never befitted for the chocolate image needed to be for a minimum heroic image in Bollywood, at the time of his entry, he walked straight towards the bit roles and contended with it. It is Shekhar Kapoor who had given him a break through the much commended ‘Bandit queen’. After its launch people started enquiring about this ‘handsome villain’.

Nirmal Pandey could essay different roles both in parallel and commercial movies. While ‘Bandit Queen’ acclaimed him a nightmare for all the women folk of the country, through Vikram Malliah, he breathed life to a soft-hearted Pakistani in the movie ‘Lahore’, which is released just after 24 hours of his death.

That really shocks, Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, the director of the movie. Chauhan, almost a new face in the Hindi film Industry recollects the unparalleled co-operation Nirmal rendered, despite an experienced actor’s embellishments. In the minus 20 degree Celsius at Ladakkh, while working on the project, Nirmal Pandey was motivating Chauhan saying, ‘you will be rewarded for your sincere efforts’.

Acclaimed, but…

‘Train to Pakistan’, ‘Hum tum pe marte hai’, etc are his much acclaimed movies by critics as well as the public. Along with this enroute reception, he could win the hearts of all Hindi speaking world through ‘Pyar kiya to darna kya’, ‘is raat ki subah nahi’ and ‘hud kardi apana’.

What’s more, he was besides our dining table, or in our drawing room in ‘Hatin’ and ‘Princess Dollie aur uska magic bag’, the dearie TV serials of the domestics.

Beginning his career on stage, he never put him back with it even after involved in the charms of Bollywood. He has done plays like ‘Heer Ranjah’ and ‘Antigone’ before a live mammoth gathering. Nirmal Pandey was associated with a London-based theatre group, Tara.

Today, ‘Lahore’ is being released through the multiplexes. But Nirmal Pandey is not here to watch it to see and evaluate the soft-spoken Pakistani in the rival soil among the affectionate.

Amidst the political and communal hoots, ‘My Name I s Khan’ is gearing to launch in the Valentine’s week with the evergreen romantic pair of the Bollywood. Anoop Sankaran lays out the optimistic highlights of those who behind this Bollywood buzz which is going to rock the theaters, shortly.

Controversies and gossips are always ‘necessary evils’ at least for the film industry is concerned. There had been such sequels in our ‘not so short’ histories as proof.  ‘My Name is Khan’ is going to be the latest there. Not only the tinseldom but the whole India, and a lot other Hindi speaking terrains predicts the same.

Those behind the MNIK are confident that as soon as the flick hit the screen, all the other mess would be in oblivion, since none other than the ever green pair of the bollywood, Sharukh Khan – Kajol, is romancing on the screen once again. They are pairing after a loooong 8 years, after the ever hits, DDLJ and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. Yes, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Kham’ had all the needed ‘K’s, still it never tethered to the agape audience. In fact, they have been waiting to see the duo flaunt once again on the screen.

Besides, the very Karan Johar himself assures ‘some unique romantic scenes unlike in other movies’ in ‘My Name is Khan’. Karan seems to be least bothered of the scuffles and pep-talks about the screening of the movie.

But MNIK is going through a storm, really. Still Karan says that it is not an issue based film but an emotional based one and a human drama about a couple.

The film ‘My Name is Khan’ tells the Hindu-Muslim issue in a very sensitive way, as never before from the mainstream bollywood. The mindset of the whole world has been changed, after the frequent terrorist attacks around the globe, since its start. Whether it is Taliban or Al –Quieda, there will be someone among the terrorist, a Muslim. No one tells this aloud, though aware of it better. This can be akin to a like saying as ‘All terrorists are Muslims, but not all Muslims are terrorists’. So, to deal with a Hindu-Muslim issue, everyone will have a second thought before the launch. (After the release of ‘Bombay’, remember, what all things happened to ManiRatnam).

At this juncture, when narrating a story based on a Hindu-Muslim issue, Karan Johar also would have thought of it. But what actually conveys through the film ‘My Name is Khan’ is a solid truth that makes the base of all the human stuff – the ultimate victory of love and humanity over the evils. It is picturesquely brought to the screen and made our Farah Khan and John Abraham compete for the tissue papers, while watching the preview.

Farah told the media after the preview: ‘Karan has moved away from his traditional style and made a very touching film.” The film has a lot of tender moments, touching deep heart, and thus bringing out the truth passed the acid test.

‘My name is Khan’ has a Karan Johar touch all through, but it never tangled in to his obsessions for the break neck plies of dance mess. Of course, it is sensitive, emotional and musical like any Karan Johar movie, but audience never expect another ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehana’ now, after his repeated confessions through the channels as ‘ MNIK will be different’.

The movie has a world shaking incident as a back drop. Compiled with the sweet melodies like ‘noor-e-khuda’, rendered by Shankar Mahadevan, Adnan Sami and Shreya Ghoshal, backed by the ‘unique’ romancing of the Khan-Kajol pair, every one is looking forward for another block buster hit after the rocking ‘Three Idiots’.

When Shiv Sena nudged for a riot against Sharukh’ s remark on Pakistani players, all of us expected something muddy around the tinseldom. Nothing happened except Sharukh’s emotional comment to the press as ‘I felt very disturbed when my daughter asked me whether we have to leave India?” Sharukh Khan inculcates that he is a Mumbikar at the same time an Indian. He never emphasized that he is a Muslim. Somehow, at present in the real and reel life he is a Muslim and Khan. Certain segments are always waiting for a hubbub through which they can do over simply. We hear some dissonances from Bandra like that. Let all Indians pray for the good.

Anyway, we may not hear the song from ‘My Name Is Khan’ in a discotheque sometimes. Instead we would hear it after switching all the lights off, detained to some aloofness. It has been long we heard such a substance from bollywood. The same Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy team that composed for ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Keahna’ is ‘attuned’ once again for the ‘My Name Is Khan’.

The distribution strategy of the film is also very unique and new to the industry, as it is being released in a two-level way to the major centers first and some other new centers in the whole world exclusively for the bollywood explorers, next.

An ever super hit is gearing up for the Valentine’s week with the evergreen romantic pair of the Hindi screen, rowing through the mess of hues and cries. But we can hope for the best as it is always do when the ‘K’ repeats as King Khan, Karan and Kajol along with an unprecedented buzz. Shiv Sena renews threat… security forces at alert…media ready to take  a start- camera- Yes.. the stage is set ready for the King’s solemn march!!!

With four National Awards in her wallet in such a tender age and that too happened in a short time span, Shreya Ghoshal has proved that she is the best singer of India. Anoop Shankaran draws out a vignette of the play back singer through her musical trips.

Shreya Ghoshal is just beginning, an era of her own. What she is now in Bollywood is nothing different from what Lata Mangeshkar has been there. The only difference is, Shreya is just 25, a tender age, when talking about eras and legends.

Shreya now fills the media-breaks as the National Award winner of the year2009. It is for the forth time she has been recognized by the nation as the best play back singer. How can it be not possible for a girl who sang to Indians for the first time through the lips of the one and only Aiswarya Rai, and that too, through an epic Hindi movie like ‘Devadas’?

Birth of a Star

Shreya’s infancy was with her mom’s harmonium and her childhood also was laced with limelight of the Zee TV, in its kids’ episode of ‘saregamapa’. She won not only the first prize but the great judge, Kalynji’s heart also. Thereafter Kalyanji, took her off to the realm of music, replanted the Bengal born, Rajasthani brought up girl in Mumbai, the whimsical world of Hindi movies (bollywood). Trained under Kalyanji and thereafter under Mukta Bhide, both in Hindustani and Carnatic with equal aplomb, a prodigy was growing beyond the sky line of bollywood.

Later in 2000, in the same Zee TV, in the same ‘Saregamapa’ platform, Shreya again appeared, but this time not as the ‘old shy kid’, but as an adult singer, matured and confident. That paved her way to Hindi film music, and to the amazement of the whole Hindi speaking world, she bagged the National award for the very first song ‘bairi priya’. She has never looked back since.

Beyond the Bollywood

Today, there would be rarely a Hindi movie or Hindi MP3 song album without the tintinnabulations of this lovely girl. With four national awards within a short span of seven years, she is always the number one choice of the Hindi lyricists and Hindi music composers. Her growth as an acclaimed play back singer along with the veterans like Alka Yagnik, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kavitha Krishnamurthy and Sadhana Sargam was apace. In and around the country she scored mammoth gatherings of her fans whose snake queues amazed the world.

Recently in the great Opera House at Sydney, Shreya wowed the people gathered, with her mesmerizing euphony. When asked about the Indian play back singer one of the natives who witnessed the show retorted, “you mean, play back.. She was in the front end; never say she is playing back”. Yes, when her concert was going on in the Opera House, one can easily figure out the rare candor with which she balances her tunes and tones with the audience and the orchestra simultaneously with great aplomb. She has rendered concerts and peppy numbers with full exuberance. With every request from the audience, she sang spontaneously with less effort. But at the end of the show which extended 3 and half hours, she seemed to be quiet weak. She walked straight to the car park, making the mass waiting for her autograph, desperate.

A Versatile Shreya

Shreya Ghoshal walked away with her second national award for the song ‘kangana se’ from the movie ‘paheli’, released in 2005.She was the first choice when it comes to soft and slow tracks. But she took one step ahead when she proved equally at home in fast numbers like ‘yeh ishq hai’ from the movie ‘Jab we met’ (2007) which brought her the national award for the third time. Take her two songs by the Oscar winner A.R.Rahman -‘latoo..’ from ‘gajini’ and ‘bhor bhaye’ from ‘Delhi 6’. Both the movies were released within a short span of one and a half month and both the songs are of two extreme genres. While ‘bhor bhaye’ drags on the classic track, ‘latoo’ is a mind-blowing fast number. Figure out the versatile Shreya Ghoshal!!!

Her versatility does not end here. Give your ear to any song she did in any other regional language. You will be astonished to hear the accent and intonation she renders to every word with the air innate only to a native.

‘Munpe vaa, munpe vaa’ from the Tamil film ‘jillendru oru kaadal’, ‘Randaka randakka’ a number one fast number hit of south India from the Tamil movie ‘anniyan’, ‘kuyilalo kuyilaalo’ from the Telugu movie ‘anumaanaspadan’, and ‘anuragavilochananayee’ the hit song of the year from the Malayalam movie ‘Neelathamara’ are some of the sweetest songs ever remembered by the south Indians. Many Hindi singers have been singing in the south Indian languages since the beginning. But Shreya’s rendering stands out with her unique sound adaptations to the respective languages. If one happened to hear any of the above mentioned songs, he would never identify a North Indian shade in that ditty.

Currently, she is doing a musical program in Star Plus, in which she is one of the team captains. Though stressed a bit in the traditional sari, she could manage to go hand in hand with Shankar Mahadevan, another team captain, and once, she could overtake him. At that crucial instance also, she dedicated her success to Shankar Mahadevan itself, stating ‘he is my Guru, and the success of a disciple is always the success of the Guru’.

Now, ‘zubi zubi’ is being sung by every Indian when they are welcomed by the caller tunes of their friends and relatives, irrespective of regional barriers. (It is the song from “three idiots”).  You are going to enjoy ‘noor se’ from the most awaiting ‘my name is Khan’. Definitely you can find the solid elements of the romantic voice of Shreya Ghoshal there.

The year 2009 has brought laurels to the Indian film industry, straight from the Hollywood, through the twanging Oscars. On the other hand, Bollywood industry was witnessing a series of pompous debacles throughout the year, within. AnupShankaran on a look out of the whodunit issues of this nonplus fiasco.

The year 2009 has proved to be one of the worst years of Bollywood. A number of hoo- haa movies hit the theatres. But most of them were rejected by the audience. Hits were far and few, while movies with big banners and hefty star cast, failed to keep the viewers at the edge of their seat. In short, it was a downfall which we had to watch on the Bollywood screens, last year.

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But what made it suffer this much? Well, the answer is simple. Movies are devoid of enough stuff to keep the interest of the audience alive. A question can be raised, Are our directors trying too much to win critical acclaim and hence keeping the audience aside? Are they scared to experiment with dramatic scenes as there is a chance that it may get ridiculous? In “Rocket Sing” one line is there-“business paisa nahi, log hain” (business should aim at people, not money). Our film industry has to accept the fact that it is people who are going to make the movie a hit, not the critics. Therefore, interest of the audience should be the first priority of the film makers. We pay entertainment tax to the government to watch a movie from the theatre. So, naturally that movie should have an element of something to entertain us. Subsequently, we expect it whenever a new release is out.

In ‘wake up sid’ , there is a scene in which Ranbir Kapoor realizing his mistake and going back to his mother. That particular shot was something realistic content in it. But it would have been much better, if some dialogues with a pinch of emotional snippet were added into it.

The latest arrival ‘three idiots’ has turned this traumatic apple cart upside down. It is the one and only entertainer released in 2009. Apart from an entertainer, it holds the elements of a strong script, popular faces, enthralling music, real comics and of course some moving scenes. Unlike the array of the bohemians, director Rajkumar Hirani, has given needed emphasis on the viewers with his sagacity and foresight, needed for a captain. In fact, he saved the filmdom from the verge of collapse. Anyways, the continuing controversies and the outbursts aired by the TV news flashes will be an icing on this New Year cake.

The Star of 2009 and the Best Star under 30 – two boisterous titles have been bestowed upon Ranbir Kapoor for his performances in ‘Ajab premki ghazab kahani’ and ‘rocket singh’. When the first one, ‘Ajab..’ rocks the theatres,’ Rocket Sing’ was seen coming down with an equal pace with which it had launched.

Now, the success of a movie in almost all cases is determined by the publicities aired through the channels, in the form of promos and clippings. This may not be an accepted conclusion, but a fact generally. Probably, this may be the reason for the ‘Rocket singh’ to have a bumping collapse in the box office. At the same time, the boost of publicity led the audience to the theaters, which drawn out the stupendous success of ‘ajab..’. Despite one or two ridiculous scenes, all the more the movie was up to the salt.

“Success is a journey, not a destination”. “Failures are the stepping stones to success.” It is better, if the film makers keep in mind, these time-honored sayings. If so, we can expect something solid from Bollywood in 2010. So, let’s hope for the best!