Earshot 8212; Pune

Amazing Gracy
In the industry they say you need to have luck dancing on your head, only then can you make it big. Talent comes later. A case in point is Gracy Singh who plays Dinky in Amaanat. She has signed on, hold your breath, a film called Lagaan in which she plays the lead opposite 8212; again hold your breath 8212; Aamir Khan. The film is Khan8217;s home production and is directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar. So these days you can see Gracy at classical dancer Indu8217;s house who happens to be veteran choreographer Pappu Khanna8217;s wife where she is being trained in dance each day. No, that doesn8217;t mean she would be running around trees with the cute Khan in the film. Lagaan is a meaningful8217; film a period piece. Well, all said and done, we8217;re only prying to know if Gracy would continue to grace television! We think she should because if Amaanat hadn8217;t happened, she probably wouldn8217;t have been where she is today. Any way, we wish well and all the luck for her film career.

Knock, knock
Most of you must know that there is a comedy called Knock Knock Kaun Hai on Zee. But did you know it8217;s edited and produced by Ashok Singh who just happens to be Gajendra Antakshari Singh8217;s brother? Now the sitcom is in the news for two reasons. First, for the good part: it recently completed 52 episodes, and it has got an extension of another 52 episodes, which means the TRPs are satisfactory. And now, protagonist Dilip Prabhavalkar who was always pestered by uninvited guests at home, as the title suggests will be forced to entertain them in office too. Hard TimesThe market is Bad. We8217;ve been hearing this for quite a while now. And the problem seems to be particularly acute for DD-Metro producers. Programmes on DD1 are spinning money like wool 8212; for instance, Om Namah Shivay, Shaktimaan. But DD Metro is not enjoying any luck. Otherwise, why would Cinevista wrap up Hindustani which was ruling the TRP charts for three years? And why would UTV voluntarily retire Sea Hawks which has also been at the top for more than two years? The serial will go off the air after completing 137 episodes, whereas it was contracted 156 episodes. It must be due to a lack of sponsors. What is DD doing? Shouldn8217;t it be doing something?

New channelA few weeks ago, we had told you about rumours that the Adhikari Brothers were planning an entertainment channel. Well, there is never smoke without fire. The channel should start off in January 2000 8212; if all goes well. They have been signing contracts with some producers like Rajan Waghdhare, Karan Shahm among others, to produce software for this channel. They have also moved into their new office at Lokhandwala which is a eight-storeyed glass structure. And guess what their channel is being called? ABN 8211; Adhikari Brothers Network, obviously, what else? More news on this, later.