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Journalism of Courage
Awarding Ignorance
The is the lady who has single-handedly and with no political support brought home to many of us the Mahabharata. Teejanbai, the well-known and well-travelled Pandavani artiste, whose first outing earned her a reward of Rs 10, still does not understand the significance of awards. 8220;I was in Allahabad for a performance and after the show, many admirers came up to me and lauded my act.
But what irritated me was that they were addressing me as Padmashri Teejanbaiji,8221; she reminisces. So she turned to her husband and said: 8220;Hamein yeh upnaam pasand nahin hai. How can these people, who don8217;t even know me, call me a name they fancy, just like that?8221; It was when he told her that she had received some8217; award from the Government that she understood. Even today, though she can smile at her 8220;ignorance8221;, she says that her driving force is not awards but the love of youngsters. 8220;We have to ensure that this art form does not die,8221; she says.
It8217;s obviously a quid pro quo world out there. Nothing comes easy or for free. So you have the Malaysian Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Dato Abdul Kadir Haji Sheikh Fadzir, wanting some favour from the Indians. 8220;The ties between India and Malaysia are very strong, with India having remained our No. 1 steadfast friend from the time we attained Independence in 1957.8221; And he makes no bones about the fact that he wants to give something back to the people here. 8220;I offer all of you a land that is a complete Asia in itself. Come to Malaysia and you8217;ll get everything to suit diverse tastes and needs.8221; And he does not forget to add: 8220;We have many activities to suit even budget travellers.8221; Now is that political acumen, plain jobspeak or an offer to strengthen ties? Perhaps a visit to Malaysia will answer all queries.
Rumour Rounds
Raman Kumar, the very man who made the serial Tara a household name was in Pune recently as a guest speaker at a college festival. Rumours, well they happen to the best and the worst in the business of glitz and glamour, but here is one man who seems least affected by them. 8220;I love rumours,8221; he says. 8220;Gossip does keep you in the news, but eventually it is one8217;s work that matters more. The hype can be enjoyed for a moment but it doesn8217;t take you to the top. Vague facts have a way of doing the rounds.8221; Loving rumours is one thing but putting one8217;s foot in the mouth to scoop out rumours is an all new ballgame!
Music Of The Past
Kyayyam, the musical genius, was in Pune to attend a felicitation for his 50 years in the film industry. Describing the past as a golden era, Khayyam recollects the times when purposeful movies8217; were complemented by mellifluous music. Not too happy over the way songs have undergone such a dramatic transformation, he says: 8220;Music can never deteriorate for it8217;s holy. But I seriously hold the vulgar choreography and lewd lyrics of today responsible for this decline in genuine melody and long-lasting songs.8221; As they say, each to his own, so here8217;s the musical maestro adding his own.
Sky8217;s Not The Limit
If Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla have become more or less a package deal these days, so have Rahul Bose and Laila Rouass, who star together in Dev Benegal8217;s Split Wide Open. 8220;It makes more sense for us to do shows together these days,8221; says Bose who came with Rouass to the Mahalaxmi Race Course last week to cover the Poonawalla Millions for Star Movies.
The Bombay Boy is all set to go international soon with the offer of a major project from Hollywood that he is 8220;looking at8221; right now. Also under consideration is a Bollywood movie. But what Bose is actually aiming at is bringing the two worlds together through his own productions. 8220;I8217;m trying to get together the finances to make my own movie which will be an English film titled Everybody Says I Am Fine,8221; says this versatile actor who has done it all theatre, television, ad films and movies. And now with filmmaking too on the agenda, there doesn8217;t seem much that Bose is not involved in. From A Mouthful of Sky to a fistful of experiences?
