Tuesday, September 1, 2015

A BULLET FOR A BULLET (Keynote Address With Mr. Julio Riberio) : by ~ Niilesh A Raje





The Independence Day weekend might have been long weekend for many but for the whole crew of St. Xavier's College (Mumbai) for the professors and their students it marked the opening ceremony for their three day annual festival of St Xavier's College namely “Malhar”.  

The theme of this year's Malhar was 'A Chronicle' and it proved to be a crowd-puller as over 67 different colleges from Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai participated in this annual festival with great enthusiasm.

'Malhar Conclave' the festival's first day which coincided with Independence Day celebrations drew people in large numbers for interactive sessions and discussions. Day one of Conclave started with keynote address from Mr. Julio Francis Riberio.

Mr. Ribeiro has been a Padma Bhushan Awardee, India's third highest civilian award for his services. He was also the former Mumbai Police Commissioner and Indian Ambassador to Romania. He led the Punjab Police during part of the Punjab insurgency periods. He held positions such as Special Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Adviser to the Governor of Punjab.

When former Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Vasant Dhoble retired he said, “If there is one person whom I always looked up as my role model during my service then it has been the retired Police Commissioner Mr. Julio Ribeiro”.

There is a Marathi phrase namely; “Jashas Tase” it means tit for tat is fair attitude which has been his credo. It's the reason Mr. Julio Ribeiro remains to be my inspiration who has also authored a book titled, “Bullet for Bullet” said Mr. Dhoble. 

The first session on day one for “Malhar Conclave” the audience had the opportunity to hear keynote address from Mr. Julio Riberio titled as “A Bullet For A Bullet”. Here is the excerpt from his keynote address:  


   

Question: Is the youth getting involved in politics a good idea?

Response: “It’s not a bad idea at all. However, not all people are meant for politics. Politics is a quest for power.”

Question: “Why do police appear to be demonized?”

Response: The policemen are required to adhere to the law. When you have the common masses on your side no one can touch you. And one can only have the masses on your side if you serve them.

On being an IPS officer “The ‘S’ in IPS stands for service. You’ve come to serve the people, not to be their masters.”

“Old social institutions like joint family and caste system are breaking down.”

“Value system has changed”

“Economic crimes like avoiding the income tax are more dangerous.”

“I have worked with the youth and can relate very easily to them.”

Question: How do we tackle corruption?

Response: “Try to influence young minds. At schools we must convey to the young that these practices are not good and ethically right”

“Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a very good campaign; but in practice we must understand it. It should be a movement and even colleges should get involved“.


Monday, August 31, 2015

Aandhi ( Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya Hai ) : by Niilesh A Raje


Some interesting anecdotes about the film “Aandhi” and it’s songs I would like to share today with the voice of my readers

(a) The Plot - J.K. (Sanjeev Kumar) is a hotel Manager in a scenic location in India. One day he gallantly comes to the rescue of a drunk daughter, Aarti (Suchitra Sen) of a politician, and chooses to be discrete about it. When she recovers both fall in love and get married in a small marriage ceremony, have a daughter, and thereafter differences arise to such an extent that they decide to separate. Years pass J.K. and Aarti meet again when she is an established politician, both are still attracted to each other.

(b) Gulzar Saab then was involved working in two projects namely “Aandhi” and other being “Mausam”. Aandhi was first shot in Kashmir in 1974. It was producer J. Om Prakash who suggested to Gulzar Saab that “Aandhi Ke Baad Mausam Achha Hota Hai” (After the storm (Aandhi) the weather (Mausam) gets better). Gulzar Saab agreed and Aandhi was the project taken up first then came Mausam.

(c) The role of Hotel Manager J.K. in this film has been played by actor Sanjeev Kumar. Well, Gulzar Saab used to sit alone in Hotel Akbar in Delhi writing Aandhi’s script right from frame one to the end. There was an hotel employee by the name J.K. who served Gulzar Saab well day and night during his stay in the hotel. Gulzar Saab promised to name the hero of his film Sanjeev Kumar after this gentleman named J.K.

(d) The exalted success of the film musical hit “Aandhi” is pretty much evident with the number of views as seen on YouTube. The lyrics were penned down by none other than Gulzar Saab and music from the legendary music composer R D Burman.

(e) Tum Aa Gaye Ho, Noor Aa Gaya Hai . . . Nahin To Chiragon Se Lau Jaa Rahi Thee (Light has arrived with your arrival. The flames from the lamps were dying down) . The first line of this romantic duet was shot in a small garden behind the Oberoi Hotel from where the Dal Lake can be seen distinctly. The rest of the song was shot in Shalimar Baugh. Other musical numbers from this film includes, “Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi” and “Iss Mod Se Jate Hain”. While Gulzar Saab won his Filmfare Award as the Best Film (Critics) it was actor Sanjeev Kumar who won his Filmfare for being the “Best Actor” for the film Aandhi.    

Gulzar Saab remains to be the “Wizard of Words”.



Friday, February 13, 2015

Madhubala ( Beautiful face born on Valentine Day ) ~ by Niilesh A Raje



Author 
Khatija Akbar
Publisher        
Hay House India
Price
Rs 399/-
Pages
264
ISBN   
978-93-80480-81-7

February 14th is celebrated all over the world as Valentine’s Day. A day when each lover tries to make it the most romantic with that someone special be it over cup of coffee, movie, shopping date or romantic dinner. Valentine’s Day also reminds me of the birth anniversary of someone who bewitched all the men’s heart with a serene expression on her face. She was none other than Madhubala considered to be one of the most beautiful actresses to have once graced the screen of the Indian Film Industry.

In the biography “I Want To Live” – The Story of Madhubala the author Khatija Akbar gives the reader fascinating nuggets of information that throws new light not only on the life and times of Madhubala but also on the Golden Era of Hindi Cinema. The author has done extensive research in terms of conducting interviews with many of them who interacted with Madhubala. The story of this star is covered in the book spread across eight chapters right from her first film as a child star up to the magnificent Mughal–e–Azam bringing about not only the ‘reel life’ but also the ‘real life’ human being in her.

An interesting incident I would like to share with the readers is her professionalism and commitment towards her work. It had rained steadily all night. A heavy downpour had collapsed Bombay (now Mumbai) city. There was no power supply and train services were suspended. Be it the common masses or glamorous film stars most of them preferred to stay indoors by not venturing out the next day in the morning except for one Madhubala. She had to report for the shooting that morning and she did. The studio was flooded, its furniture and equipment standing in water with no one around the studio except for the security guard. How she reached there, what route she took, how early she left, an incident not only motivating but also reflects Madhubala’s benchmark of professionalism. It was late 1948, and the star was just fifteen years of age.

Book has covered each aspect of the actress be it Madhubala’s early death, her long affair and break off with the actor Dilip Kumar or her marriage to Kishore Kumar which witnessed mental turmoil. In her late 20’s at a time when heart surgery was not widely available she was advised to undergo one for a hole in her heart. It only gives the impression that life had not been fair with her in matters of the heart. But just few days before her death, Madhubala had been murmuring I want to live . . . God, I don’t want to die. Nine days after her thirty-sixth birthday on the morning of 23 February 1969 she eventually succumbed to her serious illness.

Born on Valentine’s Day Madhubala had her Villa filled with flowers resembling it as a florist’s shop. But on her last birthday the author says there was only one bouquet for her. Such is the modality of life. But her fans still remember and miss her on her special day as the legend Madhubala lives on who performed successfully despite her illness.

Reviewed by : ~ Niilesh A Raje