Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 141

Jail Diary xvi
2.7. 2013, Mumbai

It is three days since the release of TPAgarwal’s 'Policegiri' and Sanjay is anxious to know about the reactions at the theatre. He has worked very hard on the film and he hopes the film lives up to the audience’s expectations. He is realistic enough to not expect an overwhelming as in the times of Munnabhai but a box-office success to a solo starrer at this phase of his career would be reassuring.

Sanjay re-reads the letter sent by Manyata. She has been writing a letter every single day and sending it to him by register post. She writes detailed stories about children, home, family and friends. For the past few days however she has also been updating him about about close friend Bunty Walia talking about good old days in print and producer Rahul Agarwal sharing anecdotes during the making of 'Policegiri' and positive message from his co-star Prachi Desai.

Manyata’s letters always fill Sanjay with hope because she is very positive and believes that miracles occur when you least expect them to. Sanjay has faith that if you keep calm and think good, change will come soon and until then, he will wait patiently.

(To be continued)
Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 140

Balance Sheet of Life
1.7. 2013, Mumbai
 
There is something arrestingly attractive about Shivani of Brahma Kumari. Call it her aura, her voice or just her evolved self but every time she is in front of the camera or the microphone, you cannot look at anything else. It is not just about what she says but also about how she communicates that makes her special. She addresses complex issues in the simplest manner and resolves pressing problems.

On Sunday, at Hotel Sea Princess Brahma Kumaris hosted a talk by Shivani and the setting was perfect to connect with self and Almighty. After brief greetings and meditation exercise by elder sister Yoginiben, Shivani took the podium. She speaks softly and like always, begins almost tentatively, then slowly, like a master musician taking control of his notes; Shivani conquers your heart and mind!

She travels many topics but eventually it all leads to our sanskaras and karma, she explains that while we worry incessantly about our bank credits and debits we seldom pause to ponder over our karmas. It is important to be vigilant about oneself, to watch our thought, word and action every day, every minute and consciously work upon it so that we don’t consciously or unconsciously never hurt others, the only way to watch oneself is to guard your thought, word and action.

Brahma Kumaris have a simple mantra: kum bolo – dheeme bolo – dheere bolo – meetha bolo.
For starters we can try doing that...

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Friday, 28 June 2013

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 139

Be Ghanchakkar!
28/06/2013, Mumbai


UTV produced aur RajKumar Gupta directed Ghanchakkar kahani hai ek bhulakkad chor aur uski fashionable patni ki.

Bunty aur Babli ki tarha Sanjay-Neetu peshayi chor hain, magar ab sab chod chuke hain.

Sanjay ko 35 karod ka offer aata hai aur Sanjay, retire hone se pehle, ek aakhri baar jurm ki duniya mein lauta hain.

Teen mahine baad jab Sanjay ke saathi hissa lene aate hain, tab Sanjay apni yaadash kho chukka hain.

Ab unko ko paise chahiye aur Sanjay ko yaad nahi ki usne paise kahan chupayein hain.

Film tukdo mein interesting hai - aur tukdo mein hilarious. Bank robbery sequence jahan teeno mukhwate pehankar aate hain, film ka best moment hain. Doosra shandar moment hai jab sab sab Ghajini ki baat karte hain...

Film ke characterisations/performances film ke plus hain. Emran Hashmi-Vidya Balan ke takkar ke jodi bante hai Rajesh Sharma aur Amar Kaushik.

Film ka minus, plot, story line aur repetitive information hain.

Ek samay baad, hum wohi 2 bedroom apartment ke kitchen /fishtank/ passage mein ghutan mehsoos karte hain.

Camera jab bahar bhi jaata hai toh wohi railway station/ train/ taxi/ crowded sadkein dikhata hain.

Aamir Khan ki Ghajini ke baad, ye bhi amnesia ki kahani hain – Ghajini zyada violent thi, Ghanchakkar zyada provocative hai – yaane adult viewing ke liye hain.

Chakkar ke andar chakkar hain aur ye Ghanchakkar khalli dabba zyada shor hain.

Ghanchakkar ko Big Entertainment Ratings milte hain 2.5 stars.

Bhawana Somaaya / @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 138

Under the Dome
27.6.2013, Mumbai


BIG CBS LOVE is all set to participate in a global television event with the launch of a brand-new show, Under the Dome. The 13-episode series, based on author Stephen King’s best-selling novel of the same name, will launch simultaneously in several countries within the week and features some of the biggest names in entertainment like Mike Vogel, Rachelle Lefevre, Colin Ford and Brit Robertson. Produced by CBS Television

Studios, in association with popular Hollywood director Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television Under the Domepremiers in India, exclusively on BIG CBS LOVE starting 28 June, 2013, every Friday at 10pm.

It tells the story of a small town that is suddenly and unexplainably sealed off from the rest of the world as an enormous transparent dome descends on it. The town’s inhabitants face issues like surviving in the postapocalyptic condition in the town like how the dome got there and how long it would take to disappear. The show brings together four of the biggest names in international entertainment - executive producers Neal Baer and Brian K Vaughan who have previously worked on shows like  Lost, ER and  Law  and Order: SVU, and director of the pilot episode Niels Arden Oplev who has also directed the original Swedish adaptation of the critically acclaimed movie Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

In India, Under the Dome will be promoted extensively using on-ground activations, digital innovations, print media and OOH bringing into play the media muscle of Reliance Broadcast Network and external media.

As BIG CBS LOVE gears for phase II of digitization, with Reliance Broadcast Network’s recently launched consumer awareness campaign ‘Choose Your Set Top Box Wisely’ campaigned across 4 metros and extended to 38 cities in DAS phase II. The campaign has been designed to empower consumers with information on digitization and will be promoted across the platforms of television, radio, cinemas, digital, outdoor, on ground and road shows.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 137

Life is cruel
26.6.2013, Mumbai

It is more than a month since Sanjay Dutt is in jail and I have heard no outcry or anguish from anyone in the trade except for his dear friends, his producer whose release is due in a few weeks and of course his family...

It is almost a fortnight since Sooraj Panscholi has been arrested by the police as suspect in Jiah Khan’s suicide case and again, nobody has reacted violently in either defense or condemnation of Sooraj or Jiah Khan...

So many in Uttrakhand are dead and so many are on the verge of dying but not a single industrialist or minister have sent his private helicopter in search of the victims…

The rich and famous are busy with pressures. All the politicians care for are the votes and all the film fraternity is concerned with are the collection figures. That’s how cruel life is.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 136

Rain, romance & melody 
25.6.2013, Mumbai

Romance in Hindi films is synonymous with rain sequences. Much before the item numbers dawned into our entertainment business, rain songs were the only ticket to erotica moments in films. Not all of them were explicitly sensual but they reflected a longing, an admission of desire and therefore all these songs were special. We remember some of these numbers for the extra-ordinary lyrics and melody and some for the song situations and choreography.

How can we forget the spirited Aishwarya Rai dancing to ‘barso re megha…’ in 'Guru',  Kareena Kapoor drenched in the shower singing to Rahul Bose in 'Chameli' and before that Madhoo jumping in the paddy fields singing ‘Dil hai chotasa…’ in 'Roja'..?

If ‘Pyar hua iqrar hua…’ with Nargis and Raj Kapoor shot under a windblown umbrella in 'Shri 420' is the anthem for monsoon songs in Hindi films, Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh dancing to ‘Kaale megha kale megha…’ in 'Lagaan' is a song of hope and ‘Badal yun garajta hai ..’ in 'Betaab' a song of reunion where childhood friends Amrita Singh and Sunny Deol meet after a long separation.

The poet always had a new expression for these rain songs depending on the situation and character and the filmmaker combined with choreographer and musician turned these moments magical.

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

Monday, 24 June 2013

Cutting Chai with Bhawana Somaaya - Day 135

Needed, Superman in Uttrakhand
24.6.2013, Mumbai

Finally, I watched the much talked about 'Man of Steel' and only because my niece was keen that we see the film together. After ages I visited the dome IMAX Theatre in Wadala. I remember attending the inauguration of the grand premise more than a decade ago when we were treated to a 10 minute film on Taj Mahal starring Aishwarya Rai. After that I have attended many premiers and film festivals including the annual FICCI conference headed by late Yash Chopra.

Walking down the gallery seat and post film the steep staircase to the exit I realised for the first time how senior unfriendly are most of our theatres. IMAX is an impossible exercise for the weak and the disabled and I’m not sure if I would want to sit in the uncomfortable couch seat the next time I’m in the same theatre.

The film does not live up to the hype and there is nothing to appreciate except the production values, the packaging, presentation and the technology. Wearing 3D glasses is a torture and paying 600 rupees per ticket is a crime.

All I could think of while watching Superman was that if only he could fly to Uttarakhand and help all the victims, then 600 rupees and the 3D glasses will be forgiven.

Will you go and save them Superman or at least rob the helicopters of the Richie Rich and send them to save the surviving victims?

Bhawana Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya