Tuesday, September 27, 2016

PINK : Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s flamboyant confidence and baritone continues to endorse his trademark once again ~ by : Niilesh A Raje



So what if someone says, “You are as black as a crow” by putting in baseless, false and fabricated charges against you. That’s fine. Well, but please can you come and stand inside the witness box to prove your point. And when you have someone a maverick lawyer like Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh Bachchan) who acts as the defense attorney to assist the trio rise from the embarrassing situation in the movie Pink then it’s obviously not going to be an easy win.

Returning back home post watching the movie too many thoughts started crossing my mind. So how safe are today’s women when they are commuting all alone in cab or auto in the darkness of  the night. In today's age of social media the journey for  "No" means "No" starts right from the time the guy sends his Facebook Add Friend Request to the girl he wants to get friendly with. In the initial he knows it's very unlikely that his add friend request might get accepted but if it does it's good for him. But on the contrary if the response towards his add friend request is "No" and if  it gets declined then it hurts the male ego. Imagine if  the impact of  "No" as the answer can be so high on social media like Facebook then what it would mean as  "No" for these boys in the movie Pink who were expecting to have some good time with the three  girls post their drinks and dinner party.

In the initial part of this movie Pink it’s not the voice but the energy in the eyes the death stare of this retired lawyer Deepak Sehgal that’s sufficient enough to amplify his emotions where we see him just observing the three girls who are staying in the opposite building. These three working girls Meenal (Taapsee Pannu), Falak (Kirti Kulhari) and Andrea (Andrea Tariang) are sharing an apartment in a plush South Delhi neighbourhood.  In the later half of the movie the retired lawyer  Deepak Sehgal  decides to return back as the defense lawyer for these three girls staying in his opposite building wearing his black coat reflecting the epitome of dignity, honour, wisdom and justice.

Once the courtroom drama unfolds it’s the lawyer Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh Bachchan) whose rich baritone voice resonates inside the courtroom. Not only that but we also see this retired lawyer return to form who showcases his ability to ask blunt and pointed questions to the petitioner or respondent appearing inside the witness box. He questions a woman, “Are you a virgin?” in the court room in front of everybody with full determination and absence of fear. Septuagenarian and Superstar Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s flamboyant confidence and baritone continues to endorse his trademark once again in this movie. The attackers are represented in the courtroom by Piyush Mishra (Prashant Mehra)
  
The movie Pink ends up on a very positive note. It tells you that whether a woman is a sex-worker, wife or slave, if she says 'No' to being touched then no man has the right to force himself on her. In today’s world of emerging and competitive corporate markets women be it working or housewife they all should have the freedom to walk  freely in the society and never under the chamber of fear. One of the scenes in the movie when I witnessed the hairs on my arms bristles is when Taapsee Pannu  is forcefully taken into a van and molested till she begs and pleads the men to leave her alone. The way the courtroom drama is portrayed indeed reflects that the film maker’s director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and producer Shoojit Sircar of this film have met several lawyers to ensure that procedures and legal language adhere to the real life scenario.

The movie Pink indeed brings out the reality and attitude towards these women is quite repugnant. Can this be absolutely avoidable?

Sunday, September 11, 2016

"In school I always excelled and got highest marks in English Literature" admits the legendary film, stage actor and director Mr. Naseeruddin Shah in freewheeling chat with writer Niilesh A Raje



It was indeed a delight for all the book lovers in Mumbai who had come down to be part of the vibrant book launch event held during the Ganpati week end which marked the Marathi book release titled “Ani Mug Ek Divas”. This Marathi book about the legendary film, stage actor and director Mr. Naseeruddin Shah has been successfully translated by the eminent director, screenwriter and prolific author Padma Bhushan Awardee Ms. Sai Paranjpye. The book has been published by Popular Prakashan. The English version “And Then One Day” (A Memoir) penned down by Naseeruddin Shah was released earlier in 2014.

It was all started one day when the author Sai Paranjype received the phone call from this legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah asking, “Sai I need to meet you. Let me know what time suits you the best”. Sai was bit curious to know why Naseer wants to meet her. Without asking anything Sai gave him the time and on the said date and time Naseeruddin Shah came to meet her.

The journey to pen down the English version of this book was never a planned activity and it started in the year 2002 when Mr. Naseeruddin Shah had been to Prague the largest city in Czech Republic for six month long shoot of a big budget Hollywood Film namely, “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”. Apart from the shooting and with nothing else to do in city like Prague where it gets dark too early Mr. Shah penned down the English version of his autobiography mostly during shootings, post shootings or while waiting for his next shot. It took him almost 12 years before the English version of the book was released in 2014. In 2016 we now have the Marathi version of his book well translated by the prolific writer Ms. Sai Paranjpye.

During the course of this book translation Sai realized that Naseeruddin had fascination for English words depicting his good hold on the language and words which were mostly unheard or those that were not used in regular conversations. Sai used to make note of all such words where she had difficulty in translating them. And, instead of calling Naseeruddin daily she used to make note of these words as observations. Once her work was completed they both met again that’s when she cleared all her observations to get the meaning of the words and sentences right.

No doubt while in school Naseeruddin always excelled and got the highest marks and won awards in English literature whereas getting good grades in Maths or Physics used to be a distant dream for him. He remembers getting either 0 or 5 marks in these subjects. His father aspired him to become a Doctor.  As the book states while in school Naseeruddin had good observational skills. He used to listen to his teachers intonations, the way they dressed or the way they wiped the blackboard. These things used to appeal him more rather than what subject was the teacher trying to teach to the class and conveying.

Readers must be wondering now having written his autobiography what’s the next book title Naseeruddin would like to work upon. Would it be a sequel to this first one? No. On the contrary what Naseeruddin would like to do is to pen portrait of how he has seen and experienced his association with the Film Industry from close angle in the 40 years of his glorious journey. A topic which he feels might be interesting to him but must be disappointing to many others.

Book Title          आणि मग एक दिवस
Publisher           Popular Prakashan
Author             Naseeruddin Shah
Translated By             Sai Paranjpye
ISBN                           978-81-7185-086-0

Price                           Rs 650 / -

Monday, August 22, 2016

Book Review : ( What Can I Give? : Life Lessons from My Teacher, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ) ; Reviewed By Niilesh A Raje



A man who will always be.
A legacy that will continue forever.
Presenting a tribute to the nation’s most loved President and teacher
Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam

on his first death anniversary.

It’s matter of pride to see Penguin Books India announcing the launch of one of the most prestigious books this year namely, What Can I Give? : Life Lessons from My Teacher, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam authored by Srijan Pal Singh.

The author Srijan Pal Singh studied at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, where he won a gold medal for the best all-rounder student and was also the Head Student Council. The book is a tribute by the author to his teacher, Dr. Kalam who through the medium of this book brings alive some rare, personal and unheard of anecdotes from Dr. Kalam’s life.  

Author Srijan Pal Singh had the opportunity to work in synergy and also got the chance to spend a lot of time with Dr. Kalam and also travelled far and wide with him. He was also Dr. Kalam’s adviser during the post Presidency years, as well as his closest student.

The author had the opportunity to co-author three books with Dr. Kalam. One of his key observations being Dr. Kalam had a voracious appetite for knowledge and paid attention to the minutest details. Dr. Kalam would insist on revisiting each sentence multiple times and refining it till he was satisfied. No wonder they came up with as many as twenty drafts for any important speech which needed to be delivered by Dr. Kalam. Even before going up on the stage minutes before he would say, ‘Srijan, what are the new things we are going to talk about in this lecture? He was always looking to improve and was eager for the next version.

Libraries and reading rooms took the maximum space in the house of Dr. Kalam located at 10, Rajaji Marg. Books were seen scattered all over his bedroom and even in the garden. Dr. Kalam never set out on a journey without a couple of books in his bag.

The author has shared so many interesting anecdotes chapter wise that it keeps the readers totally engrossed. What touched author the most of Dr. Kalam was his humility. He always introduced people as friends whether they were his secretaries, his driver, his gardener, his cook or even a stranger he might have met while ago. Dr. Kalam viewed everyone in this world as truly flat – there was no place for hierarchies and ranks. 

While the author was in the middle of his second year at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad something really interesting happened. The students had the opportunity to participate in a course and the co-faculty for this course was none other than Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – the eleventh President of India. Author being the general secretary of the student union and the student coordinator for this course had the privilege of accompanying his professor to the airport to welcome Dr. Kalam in the campus. That was the first brush the author had with Dr. Kalam.

Till he, Srijan Pal Singh graduated from IIMA in 2009 he was in touch with Dr. Kalam over email and sometimes over phone call. Once the results were out Srijan passed out with flying colors and got the coveted KVS Gold Medal which is highly prized at IIMA. It was then again author states he contacted Dr. Kalam requesting for his time to meet him at his New Delhi residence as he was equally keen to show him the medal that was awarded to him in person. Within two hours he received a positive reply from Dr. Kalam asking him to come down to meet him next week at his New Delhi residence.

The author distinctly remembers his first meeting with Dr. Kalam at his New Delhi residence. He says Dr. Kalam said, “Srijan, let me tell you something from my own experience. Every talent has a responsibility. Each achievement comes with an expectation. Medals come with the weight of duty. Don’t be scared . . . but be aware".

Dr. Kalam, as is known to all, was extremely fond of children and one of his dreams was that all children should get education. Taking his vision ahead, Srijan pal Singh has decided to donate all the royalties from the book to the charitable cause of providing free education to underprivileged children through an initiative called The Kalam Library Project.

This book is dedicated by his student Srijan Pal Singh, who worked closely with him, right till the last day of his life. Recollecting his mentor’s values, oaths and messages to the youth, Srijan beautifully hares the lessons Dr Kalam taught beyond the classroom. Giving us a peel into his daily routine, travels, reflections on various national and international issues, anecdotes and quips, this book helps readers get up-close and personal with the greatest Indian of contemporary times.

In the true sense we can say the author Srijan Pal Singh knows the man behind the legend whom the world knew as Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The stories anecdotes covered in this book are beautifully told. This memoir is indeed a delight for all the Kalam fans and anyone who wishes to be reignited with his invaluable insights on life and the world around us.

Book Title   :         What Can I Give? : Life lessons from My Teacher, Dr. A.P.J.    Abdul Kalam (English)


Author        :         Srijan Pal Singh


Language    :         English

Binding       :         Paperback (Non Fiction)

Publisher    :         Penguin Books India 

Price           :         Rs 250 /-

ISBN           :         9780143334262, 0143334263

Edition        :         2016


Sunday, April 17, 2016

"A tribute to actress Lalita Pawar on her 100th Birth Anniversary today" ~ Niilesh A Raje


18 April 2016 - My piece published in today's Afternoon Despatch & Courier Newspaper - "A tribute to actress Lalita Pawar on her 100th Birth Anniversary today"


Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Amitabh's Glorious Journey : ` by : Niilesh A Raje



16 February 2016 - "Hi Niilesh. My name is Amitabh Bachchan". That's the way I met this legend the first time. The way he introduced just swept me off my feet. Big B is the legend who needs no introduction. 47 years ago a young man named Mr. Amitabh Bachchan walked into the office of Director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas to sign his first film "Saat Hindustani" to join the Indian Film Industry. The year was 1969. My piece "Amitabh's Glorious Journey" published in today's newspaper . . .

On Madhubala : ~ by : Niilesh A Raje



15 February 2016 - My piece on this beautiful actress Madhubala who was born on Valentine Day is published in today's newspaper. "Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi Who Barsaat Ki Raat" . . .

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

On The Legendary Actor Mr. Amitabh Bachchan ~ by : Niilesh A Raje


4 February 2016 - "Inimitable Big B" my piece on the legendary actor Mr. Amitabh Bachchan published in today's newspaper . . .