In an industry where stars fight with each other and the producer to ensure that their name comes up before their co-star in start credits, it was indeed surprising to see Darsheel Safary’s name as the first in Taare Zameen Par credits followed by Aamir Khan.
 
Darsheel is the hero of the film and hence Aamir is right in having his name in credits after Darsheel’s. Its high time that other stars take note of this and act in a professional way. Akshay, Nana and Anil….are you listening?

Seems Aamir is the most sensible person when it comes to his movies. His first priority is the movie and even his creative difference with Amol Gupte was for the betterment of his product and nothing else.

If Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was all about loving your parents, then Taare Zameen Par is all about loving your children. The movie deserves a rating more than all the Taare from the skies put together.

Hats off to Aamir Khan!

Has anyone wondered why Bollywood movies love to show unwanted children abandoned at the steps of the church by the mother? She invariably leaves with the abandoned kid a letter or a pendant that carries photographs for identification at a future date. She could be an unwed mother or a mother who does not have any means of supporting the child. Whatever it is, the point for consideration is that these unfortunate kids grow up in the care of the Fathers and run to the church to seek the blessings of Lord Jesus or Mother Mary whenever they are in trouble.

 

It is strange that those who pen stories for Bollywood never have any other place of worship in their sights. Neither have we seen priests of any other religion take care of abandoned children. It appears that the story writers know that the church never refuses any one who wants shelter under its awnings. It also knows that the Fathers have renounced life and possess the powers to instill the confidence in the minds of the downtrodden so that they can face the challenges of life bravely. Most of the Christian missionaries run orphanages ' they have mastered the art of consoling the unlucky ones, they feel the pains and sufferings that the unfortunate ones have to undergo. These could be reasons why script writers make their heroes look upto them in times of crisis ' they pour their hearts out to the Fathers.

Ever since I’ve known him, Ramu has always been angry. He’s angry in his movies, in his interviews and even in his pictures. He’s angry with Aamir Khan, SRK, Karan Johar, movies with long names and anyone who doesn’t want to work with him. In fact he should be given the most angry Bollywood celebrity Award. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy and his movies, I just want him to be happy you know. Therefore it makes me wonder what could go so wrong to make a person perpetually pissed off. I decided to do a little thinking on it and tried to put myself in his shoes and then out of it and came up with a few theories….

Theory 1 - He’s dumb and everyone else is smart

Now this could be really frustrating, because you are not smart enough to understand or participate in what is going on in the world and hence you are always mad. But this cannot be true, because there is one person who is dumber than Ramu and that is Karan Johar. Someone who calls a movie like KANK, “BOLD”, has got to be retarded. But I digress, we are not talking about KJ, that was a different post. So I discard this theory.

Theory 2 - He’s smart and everyone else is dumb

This can also be frustrating, because you keep making movies that you think are the best and people don’t give you enough credit. You feel like a renaissance man and public treats you as an average Joe director because they are too dumb to understand your prowess. But this is not true either, because Ramu is not even half as good as someone like Yash Chopra. Now before you say “C’mon”, just think about it. Chopra made Ittefaq, Silsila, Waqt, Kala Patthar, Trishul, Deewar, Lamhe and Chandni before he made Dil To Pagal Hai. So he has proved he’s a great director in multiple genres. The only good movies Ramu has made are in the Tapori genre, so IMHO, he’s got a long way to go, before he can beat Yash Ji. So I discard this theory as well.

Miscellaneous Theories

Now you realize how complicated this question really is? I’ve thought of some other stuff as well, like, maybe he was tormented as a kid and that’s why he is always pissed off. Like he could be one of those persons, no matter what you do, they’ll be angry with you. Or maybe he’s just plain arrogant and if someone doesn’t give him enough respect he gets mad (for eg. Manoj Bajpai and D’s case). Another reason could be that we have not given his assistants, the same amount of love we give him. I mean his assitants did make some really “good movies” like Darwaza Band Rakho, James, Bhoot, Vastu Shastra. Whatever the reason, I did spend a lot of time thinking about it. Basically gives you the idea that I have nothing better to do in my life:-)

But now that I have spent so much time thinking about it without coming to an intelligent conclusion, I was wondering if you guys can share your thoughts and help me understand Ramu’s mental state better.

 
For the last 38 years, Yash Chopra has been associated with successful movies in Bollywood. First as Director and then as Producer, you’ll notice that Yash Chopra and his movies are synonymous to success. Since 2000, Yash Raj Productions are churning out successful movies like no has ever done before. Yash Chopra and his son Aditya Chopra have revolutionized Hindi Movie Industry. You can say they have kind of corporatized it. New talent (Kunal Kohli, Shaad Ali, Sanjay Gadhavi, Siddhartha Anand) are encouraged and promoted to make wide range of movies. That’s really a very healthy sign for Bollywood!

 One glaring point to be noted here is that whoever gets associated with Yash Raj, has been successful without fail. Rajesh Khanna did two of his best films - Ittefaq and Daag with Yash Chopra. Next started the most successful association - Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Chopra. Result - some of the finest movies in Bollywood: Deewar, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Kaala Patthar and Silsila. Anil Kapoor was also once Yash Chopra’s favorite. He did Mashaal, Vijay and Lamhe. And if the news is true, then Anil Kapoor is set to return to Yash Raj camp after 16 years in a negative role in a forthcoming movie. Before Shah Rukh Khan did Darr, we all know Aamir Khan was Yash Chopra’s first choice for that role. Apparently Yash Chopra was impressed with Aamir’s raw performance in Parampara. That Aamir did not do Darr, is another story. However, he did return to Yash Raj Productions with Fanaa last year. And now let me get back to Shah Rukh Khan. Darr, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Veer-Zaara and, if rumors are to be believed, Dhoom 3. And also Karan Johar’s movies, who is a product of Yash Raj School of movies.

 Some of the most gorgeous actresses have looked at their beautiful best on Indian celluloid in Yash Raj movies - Rakhi in Daag and Kabhi Kabhie; Rekha in Silsila and Faasle; Sridevi in Chandni and Lamhe; Juhi Chawla in Darr and Aaina; Kajol in Yeh Dillagi, DDLJ and Fanaa; Madhuri Dixit in Dil To Pagal Hai; Aishwarya Rai in Mohabbatein and Dhoom 2; Rani Mukherjee in Saathiya, Hum Tum and Bunty Aur Babli; Preity Zinta in Veer-Zaara and Salaam Namaste; and Bipasha Basu in Dhoom 2! Whew, what a list! That speaks a lot of Yash Raj Productions’ young-at-heart movies.

And come to think of some of today’s most successful actor, they are all from Yash Raj camp. Abhishek Bachchan with Dhoom, Bunty Aur Babli, Dhoom 2 and forthcoming Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is the current Yash Raj favorite. Saif Ali Khan got his first solo hit in Hum Tum and he has not looked back since then. He did Salaam Namaste and is now doing Ta Ra Rum Pum. John Abraham came into limelight with Dhoom and now even Hrithik Roshan is associated after super successful Dhoom 2. Not to forget Big B and SRK, who still top this list.

With Aditya Chopra at the helm of Yash Raj Productions, I have no doubt whatsoever, that this successful stint is going to run for a very long time. Let the show go on!

Serious thoughts cross my mind as I listen to some of the most devout admirers of Dr. Amitabh Bachchan who have stood by him through thick and thin during all the thirty-six years and more that he has been around and ruling supreme.

These "Bhakts" of the Bachchan are anxious about some roles Bachchan has played in some films in the past and two films which he has agreed to play now, one complete and one in the making, 'Nishabd' and 'Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay'. They very strongly feel that Bachchan should not have agreed to play the philanderer. The ageing man with a strong weakness for women in "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna". They genuinely and sincerely feel that the role did not suit his age and certainly not the grace, the dignity and the status which he has earned for himself. Now they are upset and are wondering why their icon is playing the elderly man madly in love with a nymphet in Ram Gopal Varma's "Nishabd" and shocked with his decision to play Gabbar Singh in "Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay" which RGV time and again claims to be his tribute to Ramesh Sippy's all-time classic, "Sholay". Some of them refuse to see their icon trying his time-tested talent in playing a variety of roles to prove his caliber as a complete actor. Some others go to the unimaginable extent of blaming Ram Gopal Varma for slowly but certainly damaging the image of the greatest icon of all times.

One woman in her early fifties, a school teacher, even grows unreasonable and illogical when she blames Varma for carrying on "a one-man wicked crusade" to destroy the man of a million dreams, first with "Sarkar" and now with "Nishabd" and "Ram Gopal Ke Sholay". She says "Ramuji" was playing with the innocent ambition of "the actor among all actors". Even as Dr. Bachchan is completing his shooting as Gabbar Singh and waiting for the release of "Nishabd", I give you some of their views and they are not views coming from the illiterate of the much-under-rated "janata". Besides the school teacher, I have two doctors, a house wife and a twenty-two year old young woman doing her final year in law. Listen to them, they have a voice and they want their voice to be heard.

Dr. Nachar is a practicing family doctor in Ghatkopar. He is so crazy about "Bachchanji" as he calls him that he has his dispensary plastered with hundreds of photographs of "Bachchanji". The doctor sometimes prescribes an Amitabh Bachchan film to his patients and buys tickets for those who cannot afford to. Says Dr. Nachar, "I have never dared to question Bachchanji whom I consider to be an avatar of God. But some of his recent roles are giving me sleepless nights. Where was the need for him to play Sam in "KANK" and now as if that was not enough he has fallen into the wild trap of Ram Gopal Varma by agreeing to play Gabbar Singh and the old man in love with a girl less than one-fourth of his age in "Nishabd" which I am told is based on "Lolita" which is a very dirty book which I have read. I have always told my patients that "Bachchanji" is the modern day "Mahapurush". What will i tell them now?”

Dr. Vinod Thakkar who lived in Surat and Baroda for years has now started his own medical equipment factory in Mumbai. He has been a very busy man but has never missed any Bachchan film. Says Dr. Thakkar, "Bachchan Sahab ko aise nahin karma chhaahiye. I respected him like a brother once and now I respect him like my father. As a brother you don't get upset so much. But when your father does certain unexpected things it really comes as a big shock. I saw "KANK" with my family who knew how much I love Bachchan Sahab. I couldn't answer the questions they asked me after they saw him in the film. And now I have heard that he is playing Gabbar Singh in a film which I am sure will be a hopeless film. I don't care what happens t the film but I am worried about what that man Varma will do to Bachchan Sahab's image by cheating him into playing Gabbar Singh. He is also playing the old man in a vulgar film being made by Varma. Why is Bachchan Sahab doing all these roles to hurt his fans like me? I am sure there are may others who will agree with me. But will not talk. I am talking because he is my father, mera baap hai, Bachchan Sahab.

Mrs. Charu Kanani was a fan of the Bachchan when she was nineteen. She confesses she was in love with him then. She is a mother in law and a grand mother now but her affection for her hero only grows stronger. She keeps in touch with all that happens in Bachchan's life as an actor and also his real life and keeps asking me endless questions about him every week. This time she has only one big question ' "Why is my Amitabh Bachchan doing all these dirty roles at this age? My children who have seen my madness for his now tell me how my great hero has gone mad in his old age by playing all kinds of roles, which can be played by any other actor but not by my Amitabh Bachchan. What do I tell my children when they make fun of me and my great hero?"

Says Sunita Sampai who is doing her degree in law. "Bachchan has been a part of our family. My grandparents loved him, my parents worshiped and he is my favourite actor. There are many young heroes today but I think there can be no one like Bachchan. But I cannot understand why he is experimenting with roles which I am sure will not appeal to his admirer and well wishers who have prayed for him."

These are just some of the many anxious voices about the new and bold steps taken by the actor of the millennium. I wonder what he has to say.

With Bollywood entering 2007 and sequels raking in money in 2006, it's not surprising to expect a sequel of Mother India as well. And imagine Mallika Sherawat playing the role of Mother India in this sequel.

Now if the sequel were to happen in reality, here are some of the interesting facts that could happen in the movie.

The new Mother India will be of today's times. Therefore we can't expect Mallika to drape a saree. Hence Mallika will be seen in short skirts and body hugging clothes. She will not hesitate to shed clothes as well.

The Mother India will have more than 17 kisses and that too Shaadi Se Pehle! Add some sizzling raunchy item number as well.

Getting male actors to play Mallika’s sons sounds like an impossible task as no actor would like to call Mallika her 'mother'. However, a lot of actors will have the Khwahish to play her husband as they could be expecting some steamy scenes with her as well.

Now the choice of her husband. I can think of no other than Emraan Hashmi for this role. The serial kisser will surely add spice to the plot. Also expect lots of fireworks - I mean a lot of kisses ..Kiss Kiski Kismat!

And then Imagine Mallika's Pyaar Ke Side Effects on the audience. Bachke Rehna Re Baba from this Mother India.