An intimate peek into the life of the soldier-turned-lyricist Anand Bakshi, from his formative years in undivided Punjab to eventually moving to Bombay and landing his first film Bhala Aadmi in 1958. Along the way, he lost his mother, his place of birth, and his home and wealth, but his zeal to stand up and walk after every stumble and his desire to become a film artist never abated. He eventually rose to become one of the most revered and sought-after lyricists in Hindi cinema, writing nearly 3300 songs in about 630 films over the next five decades. Written by his son, this is an inspiring story of faith, dreams, success and, above all, human values.
Filmmaking is a chance to lead many lifetimes Robert Altman Director: the invisible, omnipotent presence in cinema; a word that holds spaces inaccessible to most people. In Directors Diaries, Rakesh Bakshi demystifies that figure through the voices of twelve of the most iconic film-makers of our time. In doing so, he happens upon the greater questions of destiny and chance and how sometimes random encounters end up determining the course of a persons life. Bakshis interviews turn into deep and intimate conversations: Imtiaz Alis transformative experience as a reader during summer vacations, locked in a room; Govind Nihalanis visits with his father to temples in Udaipur, which influenced him as a cinematographer and filmmaker; Ashutosh Gowarikers disappointment at faring poorly in his board exams and being forced give up his dream to study architecture, which led him to seek avenues in theatre, folk dance, group singing, elocution contests in college, eventually leading him to cinema. Farah Khans passion for dance as a child and how she stopped dancing for almost fourteen years because her father did not like it and began doing so only after he passed away. How cinema became Subhash Ghais great escape, whenever his parents argued, he would run away to watch a film. How Vishal Bhardwaj composed his history lessons as songs so he could memorize them, and how he accompanied his friend on the harmonium at food festivals in Pragati Maidan to earn a livelihood. An invaluable record of Hindi cinemas old and new voices, and a study of the changing face of it, Directors Diaries is also an inspiring account of people battling great odds to achieve their dreams.
Do you want to be an RJ and entertain tons of listeners? Then this book is for you! Take a deep dive into the lives of fourteen eminent radio presenters to learn about the people behind the iconic voices that have entertained us via the airwaves-one of the oldest forms of communication. Gain some insight into these media influencers' life stories-on and off air-and how each unique voice has a phenomenal journey, and an exclusive story, to tell. Get to know the challenges, ideals, inspirations, favourite songs and icons of the popular radio jockeys of our time, including the legend Ameen Sayani, and maybe this can be a career which inspires you too!
About the Book Every success story has its price to pay. So did Shatrughan Sinha (SS) who achieved the impossible twice over. The youngest and the most pampered in a family of academics and doctors where four sons were named after the four brothers of the Ramayan, SS stood out defiantly different. He was born for applause and the limelight; he was besotted with Raj Kapoor and cinema. In the face of stiff opposition from disciplinarian father Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Sinha, mother Shyama Devi’s chhutka bauwa (little darling) set out for the Film Institute of India (now FTII) in Poona. Bombay was the next logical destination. Without Kapoorian good looks or any connection with the Hindi film industry, the unknown scarface from Patna went on to create history on celluloid. In politics too, with no known surname or family to power his entry, he set a record as the first film star from India to be sworn-in as a Cabinet Minister. Quotes Anything But Khamosh: The Shatrughan SinhaBiography, is a rivetingly honest read that retraces the hurrahs and heartaches of India’s most popular BihariBabu. “Do not attempt to change him. Of the 1.25 crore people of India, he stands out as unique” – Amitabh Bachchan, superstar, Hindi cinema “They used to call me the Shatrughan Sinha of the South” – Rajinikanth, superstar, Tamil Nadu “I became an actor because of Shatrughan Sinha” – Chiranjeevi, superstar & Congress-I leader, Andhra Pradesh “Ours is an Eklavya-Dronacharya story. He is my guru” – Ambareesh, superstar & Minister for Housing, Karnataka “A person who joined the Jan Sangh or the BJP when it was in the Opposition, had to be gutsy. Shatrughan is” – LK Advani, Senior Leader, BJP “I would give him sanyam ki salaah (advice on patience)” – Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs “I find there’s no chaploosi (sycophancy) in him. Our doors are open 24/7 to him” – Lalu Prasad Yadav, Leader, RJD “If the Bihari Babu is hurt, the whole of Bihar is hurt” – Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar “If we had Shatrusaab on our side, we wouldn’t need anybody else on our team” – Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister, Pakistan About the Author Renowned columnist, critic and author Bharathi S Pradhan has written both fiction and non-fiction. Mr Bidi – the life story of an industrialist; Heartfelt: The inspirational story of Medha Jalota; Colas, Cars & Communal Harmony on secularism and Valentine Lover, an adult novel, are some of her well-received books. She scripted a documentary on Mughal-e-Azam and ideated for Balaji Telefilms. She has been Chairperson, National Awards (for best writing on cinema), and has been on the jury of diverse awards committees. She was also on the jury of the Indian Panorama of IFFI 2015. Bharathi has edited a variety of magazines and contributed to several publications that include Reader’s Digest, Mid-day, Savvy, Femina and Movie. She continues to be a Sunday columnist with The Telegraph. She lives in Mumbai with Sanjaya, her Chartered Accountant husband and Siddhesh, her son who is currently studying Law.
The untold story of Hindi cinema’s first superstar Obsessed female fans routinely sent him love letters written in blood. Hysterical crowds camped outside his house to catch a glimpse of the superstar. And the frenzy unleashed by his public appearances was enough to give law-enforcers a nightmare. In the 1970s, Rajesh Khanna achieved the kind of fame that no film star had ever experienced before—or has since. But having climbed to the pinnacle of success, he then saw it all vanish. And through it all, he remained a fighter till the very end. In this riveting biography, journalist Yasser Usman examines Rajesh Khanna’s dramatic, colourful life in its entirety: from little-known facts about his childhood to the low-down on his relationships and rivalries, from his ambitious hopes to his deep-seated insecurities. What emerges is a tantalizingly written, meticulously researched chronicle of a fascinating and mercurial man—one who was both loved and feared by those closest to him. It is a story that encapsulates the glittering, seductive, cut-throat world of Bollywood at its best and its worst.
With Directors' Diaries 2, Rakesh Anand Bakshi adds yet another invaluable volume to his on-going series of conversations with Hindi cinema's most iconic voices, this time sharing with us his conversations with some of the industry's most eminent film-makers-Shyam Benegal, Tanuja Chandra, Kabir Khan, Abhishek Chaubey, Nandita Das, Shakun Batra, Prabhudheva and Mohit Suri. The book also brings to light a significant but often overlooked behind-the-scenes crew such as spot boy Salim Shaikh, make-up artist Vikram Gaikwad and audiographer and sound designer Rakesh Ranjan. From the moment they were first drawn to the craft of film-making and how they got that elusive first break as a film-maker to films that left a deep impression on them and what they have learnt from other film-makers they admire, Directors' Diaries 2 is an invaluable collection of stories for aspiring directors and cinema fans alike.
Julia Robinson’s bored. Her job at a top London ad agency is starting to feel a bit same-ish, her London rent is killing her and she’s been rained on one time too many to find the British weather amusing any longer. More importantly, everyone but her seems to be paired off in cosy twosomes.Julia wants to shake things up—and to the horror of friends and family jumps at the chance of a new job in Mumbai. Armed with nothing but a travel guide, fondness for curry and a vague awareness of Bollywood, she finds herself bang in the centre of one of the most chaotic, energetic cities in the world. But will she be able to navigate the potholes in the street, the glitzy nightlife of exclusive clubs and expensive cocktails, and the customs and traditions of a whole new world to find her way to Mr Right?
Classic tales of crime detection featuring Byomkesh Bakshi, the master inquisitor Written long before Satyajit Ray’s Feluda series, Saradindu Bandyopadhyay’s Byomkesh Bakshi mysteries heralded a new era in Bengali popular fiction. Set in the old-world Calcutta of the Raj, these stories featuring the astute investigator and his chronicler friend Ajit are still as gripping and delightful as when they first appeared. Byomkesh’s world, peopled with wonderfully delineated characters and framed by a brilliantly captured pre-Independence urban milieu, is fascinating because of its contemporary flavor. In the first story, Byomkesh works undercover to expose an organized crime ring trafficking in drugs. In ‘The Gramophone Pin Mystery’, he must put his razor-sharp intellect to good use to unearth the pattern behind a series of bizarre roadside murders. In ‘Calamity Strikes’, the ace detective is called upon to investigate the strange and sudden death of a girl in a neighbour’s kitchen. In the next story, he has to lock horns with an old enemy who has vowed to kill him with an innocuous but deadly weapon. And in ‘Picture Imperfect’, Byomkesh Bakshi unravels a complex mystery involving a stolen group photograph, an amorous couple, and an apparently unnecessary murder. Available in English for the first time in a superb translation, these stories will captivate every lover of crime fiction, young and old alike.
National Award Winner: 'Best Book On Film' Year 2000. Film Journalist Anupama Chopra Tells The Fascinating Story Of How A Four-Line Idea Grew To Become The Greatest Blockbuster Of Indian Cinema. Starting With The Tricky Process Of Casting, Moving On To The Actual Filming Over Two Years In A Barren, Rocky Landscape, And Finally The First Weeks After The Film'S Release When The Audience Stayed Away And The Trade Declared It A Flop, This Is A Story As Dramatic And Entertaining As Sholay Itself. With The Skill Of A Consummate Storyteller, Anupama Chopra Describes Amitabh Bachchan'S Struggle To Convince The Sippys To Choose Him, An Actor With Ten Flops Behind Him, Over The Flamboyant Shatrughan Sinha; The Last-Minute Confusion Over Dates That Led To Danny Dengzongpa'S Exit From The Fim, Handing The Role Of Gabbar Singh To Amjad Khan; And The Budding Romance Between Hema Malini And Dharmendra During The Shooting That Made The Spot Boys Some Extra Money And Almost Killed Amitabh.
‘His ideas and his contribution to Indian literature were . . . revolutionary’ —The Hindu Divya leads a blissful life within the secure walls of the palace even as the world outside rages with caste politics and religious strife, until one night of pleasure changes her entire world. She gets pregnant only to be spurned by her lover. To preserve her high born family’s name she leaves her sheltered existence and trudges through life on her own, first as a slave and then as a court dancer. Adversity finally opens her eyes to the truth—a woman of a high family is not free. Only a prostitute is free. Divya decides that, by enslaving her body, she will preserve the freedom of her mind. Set in the first century BC against a background of the conflict for supremacy between Hindu and Buddhist ideologies, Divya is a poignant tale that combines vivid imagination with rich historical details. ‘Reminiscent of George Orwell . . . Here too is the biting satire of society as seen through the savage eye of an uncompromising non-conformist’—Dawn
