Protests, apologies, regrets and surprises

Protests, apologies,  regrets and surprises
x
Highlights

Mahesh Manjrekar protests against the censor board to release his film "Kokanastha", Shah Rukh apologies for what happened at Wankhade stadium, Mala...

Mahesh Manjrekar protests against the censor board to release his film "Kokanastha", Shah Rukh apologies for what happened at Wankhade stadium, Mala Sinha rejects Dadasaheb Phalke Awards and surprisingly star wives Gauri Khan and Kiran Rao leave rivalry to their husbandsA In a scene in "Shootout at Wadala", Mahesh Manjrekar playing a middle-aged cop looks disgruntled when his idealistic colleagues want to go and nab the underworld don. Manjrekar who is coerced to join them against his wishes mumbles under his breath, 'Amitabh Bachchan ne sab ko barbad kar diya hai'.
bhavana
The scene is quintessential Manjrekar who looks apparently chilled out but his intensity works overtime. The actor has in the last few years systematically compartmentalised his career into the supporting actor who will play all kinds of roles in Hindi mainstream films and reserve his creativity for sensitive Marathi films. After 'Mee Shivajirao Bhosle Boltay' and 'Kaksparsh', Manjrekar is ready to release "Kokanastha" which has raised the hackles of many. Reason, hero Sachin Khedekar dressed as an RSS 'swayamsevak' with a tag line below the title reading �'taath kana haach baana' meaning an erect spine is our identity. Not that Manjrekar is bothered by the controversy. He has said that he is a citizen of a free India and is releasing a film approved by the censors so anybody having objection should not watch his film. Shah Rukh Khan has been making remorseful statements about what happened at Wankhade stadium for a while now but I have yet to read a clear apology on his part. There are stories that last week he entered the dressing room of the Kolkata Knight Riders in a clear violation of protocol only because he was dying to congratulate Gambhir for playing so well. That is the first time an emotional Shah Rukh is said to have confessed deep regret over what happened, said it was his failing to break rule sometimes and will make sure that the same does not happen in future again. Good decision had Khan listened to his advisors and apologised to the security that very moment the matter would have been nipped in the bud. It would have spared him heartache and his family and admirers embarrassment. The incident is a lesson for all the actors. Nobody no matter how big is above law and particularly now when everything is on camera and website within moments. The 60s star Mala Sinha is an angry woman and she has reasons to. Sinha has stayed away from the limelight ever since she quit films and has never been a part of any film proceeding over the decades. The old guards of the film fraternity met her collectively and convinced her into accepting the Dadasaheb Phalke Award instituted in the memory of Phalke. She made a gallant effort to even be a part of the press conference to announce the names of the award recipients. The problem began when she received the invites for the event. The card did not have her name and more important, her husband was allotted a seat eight rows behind her. Mala Sinha was appalled by their audacity and wanted explanation. Chairman Santosh Singh Jain explained that there are 50 awardees and they cannot print all the names. The reason Pamela Chopra's name was in the card was because she was the recipient of Saraswatibai Phalke Award named after the wife of Phalke and issued to a supportive wife of a filmmaker.
gaurikhan
In which case shouldn't someone sensible have explained all this to Mala Sinha beforehand? According to me Sinha should have been explained about the seating arrangement as well rather than spring a surprise on her because let's face it that the 60s was different era and her generation are used to a different etiquette. The problem with most current organisers is that while they want the glory of the vintage stars to shine at their events, they are not willing to exhibit any sensitivity to those artistes. I can understand how Mala Sinha is feeling at this moment. She had built a wall around her and was content in her private life. She was unwilling to step out of her cocoon but they assured her all will be well. She trusted and realised she had made a mistake. The episode has further pushed her into a shell and it will take a long time before the bitter episode is erased from her memory. PK Nair is a man every actor who has graduated from FTII raves about and for those who have not studied at FTII there is now a documentary on the founder of National Film Archives India titled "Celluloid Man". The documentary has won two national Awards and traveled to 22 film festivals. That we are releasing the film in the centenary year of cinema is a matter of pride to both the subject and the audience but are paying it the respect the subject deserves? Most certainly not, the allocation of theatres, time and price of tickets is unaffordable and impractical for this kind of a subject. Not only has the film been pulled out of leading multiplexes but no explanation has been offered for not showing it in all the regions. It is very sad indeed but what could have helped and what unfortunately did not happen is had the FTII alumni come together to promote PK Nair "Celluloid Man" would have been bigger news. The midsummer heat is killing but film folks are maintaining their calm despite the pressures. Ranbir Kapoor was fined Rs 60,000 Customs Duty when he landed from London last week which is okay I guess when you are earning in crores. Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan may take care never to cross each other's path again, but it was quite a moment when wives Gauri Khan and Kiran Rao met a preview theatre recently and spontaneously hugged each other. That is the spirit, many years ago Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan never saw eye to eye but that never came in the way of star wives Jaya Bachchan and Dimple Kapadia who left rivalry to their husbands and continue to remain after so many decades. Finally the government has released a stamp in honour of music composer Madan Mohan and his family is overwhelmed. As we go to the press the film fraternity traveling to Cannes is busy getting ready for a kill. Not the newly married Vidya balan who says watching films is more important than what she wears. And since we are on to marriage, Golfer Jyoti Singh Randhawa, husband of Chitrangda Singh is annoyed with constant questioning about his distance marriage. He says they devote quality time when they are together and then she travels for shooting to Mumbai he travels for his game but they manage10 days a month together which is good. www.bhawanasomaaya.com
Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT