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Poor remake

I had the opportunity to view the latest Nitin Manmohan flick Nayee Padosan, a poor remake of Mehmood’s blockbuster Padosan of the 70’s. In the original, Mehmood did a wonderful job of a Chennai-based sastrigal and Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Kishore Kumar and scores of comedians were marvelous, making the film a super-duper comedy of the decade with lilting songs to go with it. But the latest film lacks in quality and screenplay. The characters look buffonly with lots of dishum dishum incorporated. The songs were not worth a second hearing and the whole film was a bore. With lots of undigestable scenes, the total film was a waste of sorts. With several heartwarming films under his belt as producer, Nitin Manmohan need not have gone to produce such a mindless film. It is high time producers and directors did not waste the precious raw stock stored.

TR Anand
Sarangabad

Genius Ramu

Madam Bhawana Somaaya, saw you on Zee Cinema and it was very nice on your part to appreciate Bhoot wholeheartedly even though Ram Gopal Var-ma did not attend the Screen awards night where his Company bagged more recognition ever.

The article "Different Strokes" too was very well written and informative. Undoubtedly, he is one of the top directors today on Indian cinema. My best wishes for him to ome up with new and different ideas in films.

"Survival Games" by Roshmila Bhattacharya about the music industry’s situation was also very well written. Hope we will have more new talents in this genre to keep the soul of Hindi cinema alive.

It was very painful to read about Shaan cinema downing its shutters. I feel when good and great theatres are closing, artistes should reduce their price and this will naturally bring down the cost of production. In the bargain, everyone will benefit, right from the filmmaker to the lay man. There is no point in condemning the VCD piracy.

Afzal
Chennai

Aishwarya, a poor choice

I am glad that the Indian film industry got its share of limelight at Cannes. Filmmakers should continue to strive to make quality films that will gain the recognition they so deserve. My only qualm is having had Aishwarya Rai as part of the jury. I am sorry, but I don’t think she was qualified to sit on the jurh. I believe that actors and directors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shekhar Kapur and others would have been more suitable for the position as jurors. Rai has a very long way to go before she qualifies as anything resembling a good actress. It is obvious to me that her selection was really based on her packaging as the “Bollywood beauty queen” more than anything else. To be fair and objective, Meg Ryan seemed out of place as well. Overall, it is reassuring to know that India was represented. But I hope the Cannes Film Festival organisers search for quality and select Amitabh Bachchan in the coming year.

Nadia E Joseph
USA

Remembering RD

It is very unfortunate that Rajiv Vijaykar, in his article “The LP Record Plays On”, in issue dated May 30, says that RD Burman is remembered much more than his work is. Pancham’s work is appreciated and enjoyed by millions even today. Also Sonu Nigam should realise that Pancham does not need an Asha Bhosle or anyone else to keep him alive. His music alone is enough to make him immortal.

Jaideep Kulkarni
jaideepsk@yahoo.com

Long live Gulzar

The article on Gulzar by Ali Peter John has touched our hearts. The words coming from your pen are “miraculous” be it on Hrishida or Gulzar, you have won the hearts of Screen lovers. May God bless you and also bless Gulzarbhai. Whenever he makes a film, his characters are a symbol of poetry. He has given a new fragrance to Indian cinema and yes even in Pakistan, he has great fans like me, being a compere of state shows. In our Sindh region, you will find many teenager fans of Gulzar.

Sayed Fida Hussain
Pakistan

Private talk

Apropos of “Worldwide Records-FTV tie-up” (Screen, May 30, 2003). All kinds of fashion shows and advertisements in print media and on TV is shown models wearing revealing clothes. But lingerie shows on FTV are practically banned for Indian audience as whenever such shows are aired on FTV for the Indian audience, instead Indian fashion programmes are telecast. Funny, is not it? Even newspapers dailies carry out models wearing lingerie of most revealing dresses everyday but are banned on FTV. Are the Indian women not supposed to inform about the latest lingerie in the international scenario? Do Indian husbands/ men not like their wives/ girlfriends in lingerie in private life at least? Should not an Indian man buy the latest fashionable lingerie for his womenfolk? Indian men are supposed to be most liberated and broad-minded but it seems the most objections on this front are from women’s organisations and government only. Is there any logic behind such a decision to ban lingerie fashion shows on FTV. Trendz Fashion channel has poor quality as it is not sharp and clear like other channels. It must improve otherwise it will lose its viewers.

M Kumar
mkumar69@hotmail.com

Lata recovering

Lata Mangeshkar’s recent episode of ill-health and admission to her Pune Hospital, owing to exhaustion, was a matter of great concern and worry to all her fans and well-wishers. I hope and pray that the melody queen is fit as a fiddle now!

Lataji shouldn’t be overdoing her bit at public functions and charity concert shows and straining her health. She should now stay away from the cool comfort of recording studios as well though we shall be deprived of some great new music and songs from her.

Here’s wishing her speedy recovery. I also take this opportunity to request her to sing for new films and music albums in her own inimitable style!

Dr. Nitin Batra
Ludhiana

Jaaved Jaffri is back

Your cover story titled “Adventure” (May 30, 2003) made adventurous reading. Jaaved Jaffri, son of comedian Jagdeep, has grown by leaps and bounds. With his dancing acumen, he has made the serial Boogie Woogie, an entertainer of class. It thrills the children, middle-aged and oldies alike. Everyone is looking for to his tryst with Gulliver’s Travel titled Jajangaram Mamantaram. With films not doing well at the box-office week after week, we expect J2M2 to do wonders like Chota Jaadugar. Will the director’s adventurous filming bring enthusiasm to the kids all over the globe is to be seen. The enormous campaign done for the film would indeed fetch rich dividends. International market might fetch rich harvest than on the home front. Dancing sensation Jaaved may once turn out to be the entertainig sensation of the decade.

Unfogettable Anil biswas

I was greatly upset with the demise of yesteryear’s music director Anil Biswas. His touching tunes and soothing melodies specially sung by vintage Mukesh are the finest pieces, which can be enjoyed even today. My heartfelt preayers to the departed soul.

TR Anand

Songless Bhoot

Ram Gopal Varma’s Bhoot is doing extremely well and the surprising aspect is that the film is songless. In your January 17 issue of Screen, in the ‘Focus’ column, you had published an article written by me titled ‘Top Of The Flops’ wherein I had referred to how songs actually irritate the viewers and the tensions and build up of the movie is lost. I quote the passage from the article again.

“The Indian mind has become restless and shortage of time is always an issue. It is many a times very cumbersome to sit through a movie for the better part of three hours. Also, the frequent interruptions to the smooth flow of the story, due to songs and item numbers being thrown in, and due to the unnecessary plots and sub plots only serves to release any tension and involvement that the viewer may have in the film. Films fail to hold the viewer’s interest and very often, with the start of a song sequence, one can see the crowds head for the canteen.” With the amazing opening and rave reviews that Bhoot has got, this opinion, to some extent, stands vindicated. I thank you for publishing the same.

P V Vaidyanathan
shravans@vsnl.com

HURRAY RAMU

Ram Gopal Varma’s Bhoot is yet another different story told in the lines of Hollywood’s Exorcist. From the start itself, the film was totally engrossing. With Indian culture well endorsed, the desi version of Exorcist does appeal to the viewers. Indeed, the master director had done justice to the mystery film with masterly background sound, photography, acting and suspense. With superlative performances from Urmila Matondkar and Ajay Devgan, they confirm that they are indeed volcanoes of talent. With such mind-boggling subjects well-told, producer-director Ram Gopal Varma does call for accolades from all over. He gives us different subjects every time which others fail to do. His earlier films Shiva, Satya, Company, Road and now Bhoot are different in subjects. However, Satya and Company were the usual gangster stories but were different in treatment altogether.

With films like Main Bhi Madhuri Banna Chahti Hoon, Ek and many others in the pipeline from Ram Gopal Varma, we can eagerly look forward to better stories in days to come. Bhoot is sure to win critical acclaim.
Also of late, Ajay Devgan has come up with stunning performances.

Your “Tellybuzz” on Akbar Ka Darbar on Star News (May 30) was motivating. The journalistic legend called MJ Akbar does call for accolades all over the globe for his masterly editing and interviews. With Star News taking the chance of highlighting Akbar’s capabilities on small screen would not only cleanse the dirty Indian politics but also help the ones suffering in getting their problems sorted out. With Akbar releasing his most successful column titled “Byline” in book form, he has added yet another feather in his successful cap. Cheers to Bhawana Somaaya, editor, Screen, who has done the right thing in highlighting the chief of chief’s unflinched support to the ailing people all around India. With supporters from all over the world, the founder editor of The Telegraph, Sunday and now The Asian Age needs to be respected by one and all.

Your article titled “Survival Games” (May 30) was indeed a surprise. Quotes from icons of Indian cinema like Subhash Ghai, Suneel Darshan, Ram Gopal Varma and Sooraj Barjatya was indeed mind-boggling. With the sale of cassette dropping each day, they have given their best of opinions to curb the menace.

With MP3 CDs too spoiling the music market, Bollywood needs to think on counter action soon or else it will be dooms day ahead.

TR Anand
aanandtr@yahoo.com