Farooq Sheikh

Indian film industry lost on December 27th,one of most talented,admired actors whose selected film appearances would be remembered and will linger in memories of film lovers for years to come.

Farooq Sheikh impressed everyone with his first film "Garam Hawa"(1973) sharing screen presence with stalwart like Balraj Sahni.

Late seventies and eighties saw him in a parallel cinema which didn't have typical hindi films' ingredients but started a new stream and genre of films which belonged to non glamorous, talented actors like him,Nasiruddin Shah,Smitha Patil ,Shabana Azmi and few others.

He will be remembered for  his roles in Shatranj ke khiladi, Bazaar, Chasme Buddoor,Noorie,Katha, Umrao Jaan.

As an actor he admitted once that he was not commercially viable as much as actors like Rajesh Khanna or Amitabh. His era was of small budget, meaningful and emerging off stream cinema which found equal acceptance with popular Bollywood style mega stars films . Later in his career few  appearances in films, television and famous play "Tumhari Amrita"  he kept  winning accolades and appreciation from his fans.

One more shining actor first and  a star of Hindi Cinema disappears.

 

Sanjay Dutt was granted parole second time within a month. This time for 30 days on the ground that his wife is said to be unwell.
Parole in October was on health grounds.
Dec 6,2013

Manna Day whose countless gems of songs will linger in memories for years to come died on October 24th at Bangalore.
Homage to legendary singer and a musician who earned fame, name, wealth in Indian Film Industry and was still a modest simple man till his last days.
 Click on link to his website.
http://www.mannadey.in/index2.html

Hindi Films history will be incomplete without mentioning Johny Walker, Famous comedian of 50's and 60's who passed away in 2003.In one of his interviews, he mentioned how poverty stricken and earlier struggle marked his early days in Bombay in 1947 when his family moved from Indore.
By early 60's however, he had created name and fame for himself being one of most sought after actors.
Retired from films in late seventies, he continued to live happily with his family (Wife, three daughters and three sons). All sons studied abroad and he would frequently visit them.
According to his own words he had a principled life and was contended for what he had.
Born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi, he worked as a bus  conductor in Bombay  Electric Supply & Tramways Company.One day late Balraj Sahni boarded a bus and noted Mr.Kazi entertaining passengers with his unique style. He introduced Mr. Kazi to Guru Dutt who was in making of film 'Baazi". Guru Dutt gave his screen name Johny Walker after a Scotch whisky brand.
 

Rajesh Khanna

July 18,2014
Two years since superstar died, his fans haven't yet forgotten the magic spell and charisma he once had.  Veteran actor Ramesh Deo had acted with him in "Anand' says Rajesh was basically a very good man at heart. Once he saw a junior artiste on a set and inquired whether he and his family were fine. Once throwing at a party at Sun N Sand Hotel , he invited who's who of industry to celebrate his success. According to Ramesh Deo, Rajesh mentioned that most of theatres in Bombay at that time were showing his movies and it was an occasion to celebrate.But Ramesh recalls that moment when he thought, that Rajesh fall seemed imminent. His  acting style, mannerisms didn't change with time. His coterie  of sycophants were always surrounding him barely giving him moment of think and differentiate between what was right and wrong with his career.


 Born: 29th December 1942
Died: 18th July 2012

Rajesh Khanna once icon of Hindi Cinema died on July 18th 2012 at the age of 69.Lost and forgotten he was as much non existent as opposed to once upon a time when stardom and fame was all his and he was all time favourite of every filmgoer of that time. He was named Super star and no one could come close to glory he ever enjoyed.
It's been over a year since Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Bollywood, passed away. And it looks like his family will soon be done with the legal cases filed by Anita Advani, who claimed to be the late actor's live-in partner. 

Earlier this year, she had filed cases against Dimple Kapadia, her daughters Twinkle and Rinkie, and son-in-law Akshay Kumar, for allegedly throwing her out of Khanna's bungalow on Carter Road, Bandra.

Reportedly, Advani is asking for a compensation of 50 crore through her petition.

A source close to the family reveals that Advani offered to settle the dispute out of court.

Our source says, "Anita has conveyed to sort the case with a settlement. But Dimpleji has refused, preferring to get the judgment in the family's favour on their merit. Dimpleji feels Anita tried to take undue advantage of the situation and also tried to garner publicity and sympathy by suing the family members after the demise of Kakaji."

Manish Koirala elegant,talented actress who made her bollywood debut with "Saudagar" (By Subhash Ghai) was diognosed with cancer and has undergone successful treatment, is said to be back to normal life and is looking forward to resume work.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Pavan Malhotra

Divya Dutta and Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar as Milkha Singh

So far the greatest surprise of 2013 was Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" based on life of former Indian track and field sprinter Milkha Singh who also is known as a "Flying sikh"
Having done over 104Crore(17Million US$) business world wide, it entered the elite membership of 100 Crore business Club of Bollywood Fillms in recent times.
But besides the money spinning , Film will be remembered for time to come for its honest story telling, stellar performances and overall high quality and technical achievements.
Such films will set the foundation for a new era of Indian films to be  made in future,which will  compete on international level and will be appreciated by much larger audiences beyond global boundries.

Farhan Akhtar's, Divya Dutta's and every character in the film is so beutifully crafted and have been performed by artists that for a moment one  it allows you to forget that  you are watching a movie.
Pavan Malhotra as a trainer is amazingly good(see inset pic)

A lot of hardwork, dedication and efforts are put in to create such masterpiece. Only a critic eye can dissect and see all the aspects of a film
Music is the only weak shade of BMB- may be due to fact there was nothing much of a scope to render melodies in between when makers were busy narrating a very emotional story and one can give a benefit of doubt to that part.
Overall an immensely Enjoyable Film


Rating: Very Good -**** 4/5