K SATYANARAYANA – THE LEGENDARY TELUGU CHARACTER ACTOR PASSES AWAY

Satyanarayana, unarguably one of the best and versatile character actor, villain, and comedian villain, passed away at the ripe age of 87 years.   With him the golden chapter of senior male actors of Telugu industry belonging to 50s and 60s has come to an end.

The early years:  Satyanarayana has debuted in 1959 in Sipai Kuturu in a supporting role.    He got instant recognition and got immensely benefited for his striking resemblance with N T Rama Rao – his height weight sharp nose.   From then onwards in many movies Satyanarayana acted as a double of NTR in movies in which NTR had dual role and both roles had to be shown in one frame.

                                                                                                        

His journey as a Villain:  Though he did not succeed as a hero and in characters with good shades as there was huge competition from Nagayya and Gummadi, he has quickly settled in character with negative shades.   In the beginning he used to play as a side kick or second fiddle to top villains like S V Ranga Rao, Rajanala, R Nageswara Rao, in Janapada movies.   After establishing as a villain in janapada, mythological and historical movies, he also branched into as a lead villain in social movies and crime thrillers of Krishna.   With a tall and hefty figure with broad face he used to carry the role of villain very well.

The Turning Point in the career:  The biggest turning point in the career of Satyanarayana came on the untimely death of legendary actor S V Ranga Rao in his early 50s.  A huge vacuum was created on his sudden death as he used to carry any movie single handedly whosoever was the hero whether NTR or ANR Krishna or Shoban Babu.   SVR was such a colossal actor that no one could be compared with his towering performance and can fill in his giant steps.    But among all other actors if there was someone who could come closer to it and thought as an alternative in that desperate situation it was Satyanarayana.    He was signed up for many of the movies remained unfinished by SVR.   In the initial stages he used to imitate SVR heavily specially in mythological movies, to the point of being irritating but within few years he came out of the shadow of SVR and developed his own style, modulation, dialogue delivery and body language with some traces of SVR.    So from mid 70s there was no looking back in his career.

Proved to be versatile: Though no Telugu/India actor can be compared with versatility of NTR and SVR, but Satyanarayana molded his career in the same way and at the end of the career he proved to be very versatile actor carrying himself with equal ease in Social, Mythological, Historical, Janapad, and action movies in vide range of character as a Villain, Comedian, villain-comedian and character actor as father, brother, father in law and grandfather.   Though never acted as a hero, after NTR and ANR, Satyanarayana had the longest career of over 60 years acted in over 750 movies.    Apart from acting he produced and directed few movies and represented TDP as MP for one term.   

Ajat Shatru:  One of the best quality of Satyanarayana hailed by all is his ability to get on well with co actors and all camps.  Telugu industry was divided among NTR and ANR camps, Krishna and Shobanbabu camps, Balakrishna and Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh camps apart from camps on the basis of caste like Kamma, Reddy and Brahmin.   Actors especially heroins, character actors and comedians always were identified with some camp or the other and used to get majority of their opportunities from their respective camps.   But Satyanarayana was a rare exception who maintained cordial relations with all camps and sought after by all Camps.   Mid 70s to late 90s there was hardly any big budget movie with big star was made without Satyanarayana having an important role in it.   Satyanarayana longevity in film career is such that he acted with three generation of actors, NTR & ANR, Krishna and Shoban babu from 60s to 90s, Chiranjeevi, Nag, Venky and Balayya from 90s and 2000s and lastly with Jr. NTR, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun.  There is no parallel to Satyanarayana in Telugu/Indian/world cinema, who has not worked as a hero but survived as character actor for over 60 years and worked in over 750 movies and commanded respects of all his co stars including NTR and ANR, directors, producers and technicians alike

Disservice by I&B Ministry and Government of India: As happened with many actors, directors, producers, music directors from south indian movies, great injustice has been done to Satyanarayana also.    A versatile actor who has acted for over 60 years and in over 750 movies was not considered for even Padmashri.     For over the last two decades there were appeals from many senior actors from Telugu industry including Chiranjeevi that his services to the film industry should be recognized even at fag end of career but the authorities that be in I&B and Governmen of India cannot look beyond the mediocre like Saif Ali Khans and Asha Pareeks for the converted awards.  

Thanks, Satyanarayana for the wholesome entertainment for over 60 years to Telugu movie goers

As long Telugu film industry is there and anything was written about Telugu film industry Satyanarayana will have a special chapter in it and his count will be in the first top 10 actors of Telugu industry.  

Om Shanti

S. Prabhakar

23.12.2022

 GHANTASALA – THE GOD OF PLAY BACK SINGING

(Birth Centenary Celebrations)

Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao (popularly known as Ghantasala) is the greatest Telugu play singer and one of the greatest singers India has ever produced. Today the 4^th December 2022 is the Birth Centenary of this great singer.  

Gaana Gandharva : The melody and majesty in his voice is unmatchable and he was peerless and un-parallel during his life and time and 48 years after his death.     Normally playback singers specialise in a particular genre of songs and find it not so comfortable singing songs of other genres.   But the Ghantasala was so comfortable in all genres of songs, viz., devotional, classical based songs, folk music, romantic duets, solos, sentimental numbers, peppy numbers and the very special genre only used in Telugu industry `Padyams”.    No leading play back singer has ever mustered the courage to sing Padyams.   Padyam (verse that is sung in dramatic style) was a part of the performing arts of Andhra, mostly through mythological dramas.   Aalap which is a prelude to a raga occupied a major part of rendering Padyams in the olden days in mythological plays and films.   Ghantasala redefined the technique of rendering Padyam by compressing the Aalap yet doing a balance between music, lyrics and diction which made his style of rendering Padyams very popular among the Telugu speaking people and Padyams in Telugu movies disappeared with the death of Ghantasala.  He was one playback singer in the film industry who could do justice to all forms of music- classical, semi classical, light music and folk music.    As rightly said by his mentor Chittor V Nagayya   ``Many singers attempt to match their voice with the shruti, but Ghantasala is one rare singer in whose voice shruti is always present.’’   This is very unique and only those who are borne with divine blessings could achieve this unique feat.  The song “Siva Sankari” from the Telugu film Jagadeka Veeruni Katha sung by Ghantasala and composed by popular music director Pendyala Nageswara Rao was in Darbari Kanada raga with the mixture of Hindusthani and Carnatic classical shades, is believed to be one of the most difficult compositions ever experimented in Indian film songs.  The song continues to receive wide acclaim by music lovers/musicians and music critics even today.

The famous Hindi Film Singer Mohammad Rafi, who was a contemporary to Ghantasala, had great appreciation for the song Siva Sankari and also for the song “Payaninche O Chiluka”  of Ghantasala in film “Kuladaivam which was sung by Mohammad Rafi as “Chal ud Ja re Panchi”  in Hindi film Bhabhi.  Mohammad Rafi with pure heart made a public statement that the ending raga/alaap in the song Chal ud Ja re Panchi, he was not able to do justice similar to Ghantasala.   Lata Mangeshkar who had come to sing along with Rafi for the Hindi version of “Suvarnasundari” asked Ghantasala to join her for at least few lines in Hindi (for the song ‘Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya’) as she liked his excellent rendition of Hindustani ragas in Telugu version (Hayi Haayiga Aamani Saage). But Ghantasala politely refused saying it is not proper for him to do so when his great friend Rafi had come to render the same song.

As it is not humanly possible to have such melody and variety and range, he was respectfully referred to as Gaana Gandharva

Modest beginning:  Ghantasala stayed and learnt classical music from Patrayani Seetharama Sastry, in Vijayanagaram Ghantasaala sought meals as madhukaram (obtained by begging at a few houses)  with a sling bag.    During his stay in Vizianagaram along with the Carnatic music, Ghantasala also had the opportunity to observe and learn the nuances of other forms of music like folk music, Burrakatha (an oral story telling technique popular in the villages of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), Harikatha (art of storytelling accompanied with music and dance) and drama.    In  July, 1942 Ghantasala got his diploma in music from Maharaja’s Music College, Vizianagaram

He participated in Quit India movement and was jailed for 18 months.  During his stay in the jail Ghantasala had the opportunity to meet and interact with eminent personalities and freedom fighters like- Bezawada Gopala Reddy, Potti Sreeramulu, Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, Bulusu Sambamurthy, Erneni Subramanyam among others. He was given his major break by singer-cum-actor Chittoor Naagaiah to sing with Bhanumathi for the Telugu film Svargaseema  in 1945.   He established himself as a playback singer with super hits songs of movies like Keelur Gurram, Laila Manju and Devdas.  

Ghantasala predominantly worked in Telugu industry but sang few songs in Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.    He has evolved the Telugu play back singing and taken it to dizzy heights.    Before Ghantasala mostly the heros used to sing songs themselves.    Most of the legendary singers have seen a dip in their career when new trends have come and new singers have come in the arena.   But Ghantasala was an exception that he remained on top not only over 3 decades of his career adopting himself to new trends and no one could unsaddle him from the top of the popularity even after close to 50 years of his death even by SP Balasubramaniam who took over the metal from him after his death and went on to become a legend himself.    The Telugu Music lovers do not like any other singer to be compared with Ghantasala as none could ever measure upto his talent, range and melody.  

Voice of NTR & ANR : NT Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao were legendary Telugu actors and are like two eyes of Telugu film industry.   Right from the first movie till the Ghantasala death he has sang more than 90% of the songs picturised on them and he was instrumental in their super success and stardom in a great measure.   I do not remember a single movie of either NTR or ANR without Ghantsala singing for them.   Going by their personality, mannerism, body language and nature of movies acted NTR and ANR were like South pole and North pole but Ghantasala used to adopt his voice so well that we used to feel as if they were singing.  It may not be an exaggeration to say that several films that were just average became commercially successful because of Ghantasala’s songs. He also sang for Sivaji Ganeshan, M.G.Ramachandran, and Gemini Ganesan in Tamil,  Rajkumar in Kannada and Prem Nazir in Malayalam in several films.   Of all the great qualities Ghantasala possessed the best has been singing the song with lot of feel and emotion coupled with his screen friendly voice we always used feel that the song is coming from the character on the screen and whenever we used to listen it on radio we could related to the character in the movie

Most Revered Singer :  Apart from being a great singer Ghantasala was a very simple and great human being.   He maintained excellent relations with co singer, directors and cine artists.   Not only film personalities but people in all walks of life used to respect Ghantasala. He never had any difference or issues with any one and remained gentle and kind hearted person to the core.    He was simple and gentle, always used to wear While Dhoti and while kurta or shirt and wear chappal.   Going by his simple disposition people used to wonder how he can sing peppy numbers and romantic duets.    Jeevita chankram is the only Telugu movie for which Shankar Jaikishan the top Hindi music directors at that time have scored music.   It was reported that recording was done in Bombay and Ghantasala reached recording theatre in Dhoti and kurta.    The orchestra team of Shantakar Jaikishan expressed their doubt can this simpleton can sing a peppy number under their music direction.   SJ used to use over 80 piece orchestra.   But once recording of the song “Kallalo kallu petti cudu”  started people were awestruck and after Ghantasala finished the song and came out, all stood and clapped for him

Grooming and nurturing new talent: He encouraged and groomed other singers though he was the first and last choice for all top producers and actors.    SPB shared many incidents of his generosity, kindness and mentorship in shaping his career.    Once when SPB and Ghantasala were a record a song together and he was to be informed about it, Ghantasala went all the way to his house in scorching heat and waited outside his house sitting in the varandah when the house was locked till SPB came back.   This was when Ghantasala was ruling the Telugu playback singing as an undisputed king.   SPB always used to get emotional describing this incident.    Apart from singers he encouraged young and talented lyricists and music directors and never had any reservation to sing under the music direction of newcomers.  

Awards and recognitions: Ghantasala was conferred "Padmashri" by the Government of India.  The Indian government released a postage stamp in 2003. He is the first movie singer-composer of the south to be accorded this honour. The US Postal Department has released a postal stamp on Ghantasala in 2014.  He won the best playback singer award in Andhra Pradesh every year for nearly 30 years, a feat unachieved by any other playback singer.  On his completing 25 years of singing career, Andhra State Government organised grand celebrations in Lal Bhadur Shastri stadium, Hyderabad.  Apart from celebrities from Telugu, Tamil and Hindi Industry, over 30000 people attended that function.    Statues were put up in over 40 cities of both Telugu States in honour of Ghantasala and his Birth and Death Anniversaries are celebrated all over the both Telugu states and all over the world.  Many musical awards were constituted by the government and other institutions in the name of Ghantasala.  

Devotional songs and Bhagvat Gita: Though it is very difficult to make out in which genre Ghantasala was the best, he recorded some of the best devotional songs in Telugu both for movie and private albums.    Ghantasala served as the Aaasthana Gaayaka (court musician) for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and recorded many devotional songs on Lord Venkateswara and other Gods and Goddesses.  After the saint poet Annamacharya in the 15th century, Ghantasala was the only singer to perform devotional songs inside the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple near the Lord Moola Virat.

While on death bed he did greatest service to the music lover of the world.    Even though he was coughing blood and in experiencing acute throat pain due to a botched treatment he has set up a temporary recording arrangement in the hospital and recorded Bhagvatgeeta slokas and their meaning in Telugu from his hospital bed.    The LP which was released by HMV after his death has sold and continues to sell millions of copies and remains on the top of the charts.   After 48 years also it is being played on all occasions at temples and other places and remains a masterpiece.    

Ghantasala – the Music director – Ghantasala holds a unique record of being the only play back singer who scored music for 110 movie.  Due to heavy playback singing assignments, Ghantasala has stopped scoring music for movie from mid 60s and could not realise his full potential as a Music director. His compositions for films like Pathala Bhairavi, Chiranjeevulu, Mayabazar,Gundamma Katha, Lavakusa, Bhandipotu, Pandava Vanavasam, Rahasyam and others are evergreen. 

If there is one who richly deserved Bharat Ratna in play back singing category it is Ghantasala.   But like NTR and SVR from Telugu film industry two colossal actors who too deserved Bharat Ratna, Ghanasala fans too has to satisfy with Padmasri only.    But it does not make a difference to millions of the his music fans because conferring Bharat Ratna on Ghtantasala would have brought honour to the award itself.     

4^th December, is the Birth Centenary of Ghansala.   We at Prabhakar Crooning Corner will pay tributes to Ghantasala by present 100 songs of Ghantsala over the period of few months starting from today. 

Ghantasala and his melodious voice will live on till eternity

S. Prabhakar

4.12.22

 

KANTARA - GAME CHANGER FOR LOW BUDGET REGIONAL MOVIES WITH PAN INDIA POTENTIAL

After a long wait Kannada block buster KANTARA is made available on Prime Video.  Made at a modest budget of  Rs 16 crores it went on to amass over Rs 400 crores and completing 50 days runs in most of the languages it was dubbed and released including in Hindi.  The Telugu dubbed version has ousted Telugu movies like Ginna and had maximum theaters.    It got whopping 9.3/10 rating by IMBD and is the most talked about movie in recent times.  As I wanted to watch Telugu version, I didn't catch Hindi version released in Delhi.

The opinions about this movie were very divergent some calling it a masterpiece and others absolutely boring n wondering what it is all about.  

As per me it's the most sincere attempt and a great cinematic experience.   Whether it is scenic forest locales, costumes, fantastic make up, raw action scenes including rolling in mud, jalli kattu scenes, natural light by flames, the village fairs, the village Gods n Goddesses, possessing of divine spirit and its worship known as 'Bhoota Kola'  all are so authentically shot by fascinating cinematography that we feel as if we are part of proceeding on the screen.  I could relate to village fair with processions that used to take place in the street of Vijayawada during Dussehra people putting up demon and Durga make overs which were bit scary for children of my age at that time. 

Any amount of praise is not enough for Rishab Shetty for his direction first and then his spell binding acting in the lead role specially in climax.   It's more appropriate to say that for about 15 minutes in the climax he was possessed rather than acted.  The body language the mannerism and intensity are mind blowing and our racing pulse demanding it to be brought down and it is so beautifully brought down by the soothing climax song Varaharoopam, the heart of the movie (which was wrongly reported to have been deleted in Prime due to IPR issues).  Had it been deleted it would have been anticlimax.

Earlier we saw Rajamauli n Shankar creating wonders to give us great cinematic experiences in Bahubali, RRR and Robo but they pumped in over 400 crores for each movie to create it through CAG.  But Rishab has created a different and natural one with a shoestring budget and proved that it is not always necessary to resort to computer graphics.  If one has imagination, one could create a Kantara and convince audience all across India.  The best part is Rishab has not compromised or diluted the movie to appeal to PAN India audience.  Like Telugu movie Kartikeya 2 it was made for local audience and then dubbed in other languages and went on to become a PAN India hit.  

I find traces of Shayam Benegal and Mrinal Sen in Rishab direction as far as his being wedded to nativity, but he has taken care that movie is not reduced to an offbeat documentary.  I could also find traces of Sukumar's Telugu movies Rangastalam and Pushpa in keeping the main lead very raw, rustic and deglamorized as per the demands of the script and the authentic depiction of village life specially in forest areas

The story has been kept simple the villagers believing that the village deities protect them and the forest land which hundreds of years back was donated by the king.   Cut to present the villagers headed by Hero have to face the heat from the Forest department claiming forest land and the kings decedents trying to grab the forest land by throwing out the villagers 

As far as acting is concerned it's Rishab Shetty all the way.   No one could have translated his idea and imagination about the character more than what he did.  Kishore as Forest officer is excellent.  Music by Loknath is brilliant, all songs brought out real mood specially the climax song Varaharoopam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVJuOh1mWXQ).  

Strongly recommended but a word of caution, do not watch with expectation of a commercial masala movie but a movie with a difference.  It's going to be a landmark movie not only in terms of highest returns on investment but giving hope to lot of small producers to dream big n dream a PAN India success without the need to waste hundreds of crores on top stars, postproduction and prerelease publicity. 

Not a good omen for Bollywood.    We have seen by trailer of Shehjada how `Ala Vaikutapuramlo'' is copied frame for frame including the name of the hero Bantu.  Now imagine a Khan, Hritik, Akshay or Sair forced to do a Kantara.

S. PRABHAKAR

 

T20 WORLD CUP - 2022

A keenly contested World Cup

Names of lot of Teams were tossed up as favorites before start of the World Cup.  India, Australia NZ were front runners but none of them reached the Finals, Australia despite home advantage. The unique feature of this World cup has been that no team has dominated and all conquering.   Every team has tasted unexpected defeat from minnows or less fancied opponet.   Every team except Afghanistan registered atleast one win.    Had 2 matches of Afghanistan not washed out they too might have registered one or two wins having played all their matches very competitively.     Most of the teams suffered due to abandoning of matches or shortened version as a result of poor planning by Cricket Austalia in rainy season.  As always SA has been done by rain and DL rule as much as their trait of chocking. 

Suspense of Semis and entry into Finals:

Till the last match at the league stage was played the clear line up for Semis has not decided.   The shock defeat of SA in the hand of Netherlands benefited Pakistan and they came to their own in last match to make it to Semis and dominated NZ to reach Finals which looked most distant possibility for most of the time.  The most disappointing show in the entire tournament was put up by India in Semis caving in without a trace of fight back.   In the crucial Semi-final match, they were outclassed in every department and except last 5 overs of Indian batting no session belonged to India.  

The Finals:

As against expectations of fancied clash between India Pakistan, Australia England or Australia NZ, the final clash was between unfancied combination of England and Pakistan.   Ultimately it was the non-fancied and non-star studded England who became the Champs.   England was a team which has few starts n more performers and contributors for the cause of the Team.  The biggest take away from this World Cup as proved by both the finalist is that it is the bowlers who can win you the matches howsoever attractive the batters make the game.  As was seen India was almost gave a walk over in Semi final due to their lacklustre bowling.  In the final its England bowlers who kept Pakistan batters under tight leash and made it easy for batters to chase a small total.  But Pak pace battery didn't give in easily and made a match of it by making England batters sweat till 18th over. 

The panel of commentators who decided man of the match and man of the series did a good job in preferring Sam Curran over Ben Strokes who hit a match saving half century.   Though Curran was magnanimous in saying that Stokes deserved the man of the match, it was Curran's 3 for 12 in 4 overs with 15 dots balls which restricted Pak to a below par score making it easy for England to chase.    He was adjudged Man of the Tournament too for his consistence performance specially in power-play. Normally people get carried away by batters hitting couple of sixes and fours towards to end of the innings and starts believing that it is that innings only took them over the line and ignore the bowlers’ performance.    Besides finals right through the tournament the Pakistan and Afghanistan bowlers who kept their team in the hunt.   In this edition the bowlers have proved that even T20 bowlers have an equal role to play and make it entertaining.    As far as India is concerned it was their bowling which made them tentative leaking too many runs and whatever matches they won too were not very convincing

India debacle

There was so much hype created around Indian team and the India Pak clashes at group level and probability of an Indo Pak final and India as usual thrashing Pakistan.  Not sure about the players, but the crazy Indian followers never counted others like England till they got a rude shock in the Semis.     

The unending IPL matches and wins in bilateral series specially at home has created euphoria around India team.  But India has to set out for their WC campaign on back of non-availability of star pace bowler Bumrah and all rouner Jadeja, Rohit, KL and Pant in indifferent form, Aswin struggling in T20s, Virat coming back to form after giving a long rope longer than `Hanuman’s Tail’.   Out of these only Virat has redeemed himself rest of all them kept on struggling and became burden to the team.  Besides the above Axar, DK, Bhuvi also didn’t do anything noteworthy.  

What is ailing India T20 Team:

The biggest malady of India cricket is its selectors and their rigid fixation about selection process.   Never people get selected in the 15-members squad or final 11 on the basis of their current form.   More than half of them are luggage carried by the team on the basis of their past performances in distant past.   It is considered crime even to discuss about giving a break for a series or season or couple of seasons, as may be required, to seniors who are not performing so that they go back to domestic cricket or Franchise cricket and prove themselves and make a comeback. The best example is the way we carried the baggage of Virat for close to 3 years putting up a below par performance expected from a top-class batter.   After one year had he been rested, maybe we would have found another Virat among the youngster who were warming up benches at prime of their performance levels only because selectors want to accommodate senior citizens as a token of gratitude to what they have done.  Virat took close to 3 years to find his magic and making his fans and pundit thump their chest `didn’t we say form is temporary class is permanent’.   Going by that logic KL and Rohit, Ashwin & Co too may also get unending chances to find their lost touch at cost of many youngsters.  Why don’t selectors follow the best model of Hardik, with few below par performances he was dropped like a hot brick by Indian team as well as MI and see how strongly he came back within a year and now purely on the strength of his performance he has become first and automatic choice in shorter format.  It is a crime in any format and more so in T20 format. What is required in a T20 format a bowler bowling 2 economical overs and picking up 1 or 2 wickets and batters to come and make a quick fire 30 to 40 runs.   You do not need grafters or those who take time to build innings and thereby eating precious balls.   Ultimately even if they score some 50 to 60 runs, they rob others sitting in the dug-out a chance to make quick fire runs.  

One may say hindsight is 20:20 but this time we had so many doubtful starters, KL, Rohit, Virat, Ashwin, Pant.    Why then Shreyas, Samson, Padikal, Rituraj, Pritvi, Bisnoi, Umran Malik and Siraj didn’t get picked up. Had India gone with these in form youngsters they would not have done any worse than this.   You need a different mind-set for Test and limited over cricket specially T20.   We should take a leaf from Pakistan selection.    They threw young pace bowlers in the arena and how well they performed.   We still keep going back to Samis, Umesh Yadavs, Bhuvi.   What will we do with the largest pool of talent available with us through IPL, if that is not used in T20 format.   What is this rotational system, packing the calendars and playing musical chairs with players letting them to decide to pick and choose which series they want to play as a result of which there is no continuity, and they are never match ready when it comes to ICC tournaments and good for franchise crickets only.  

It appears losing in ICC tournaments with alarming regularity is neither bothering the players or the Board as long as their coffers are filled.   If it is so, it’s sad for Indian Cricket.   This edition has shown that minnows like Ireland, Afghanistan and Netherlands are fast improving, and Bangladesh and SL are reviving their fortunes and if there is someone who is sliding down fast its Indian Team.  

The sooner BCCI wakes up and overhaul their selection process, the better for Indian cricket.

 

S. Prabhakar

14.11.2022

 

Ban on Crackers in Delhi –

Leaving the Elephant in the room and running after the Butterfly

Come Diwali and come discussion about ban on crackers in Delhi.    On 20^th October 2022 Hon’ble Supreme Court declined to entertain an urgent plea to lift a ban by Delhi Government on the production, storage, sale and bursting of firecracker in Delhi.    They also gave a word of advice spend your money on sweets (as of now they are not concerned about people suffering from diabetes) and let people breathe clear air.    I could never comprehend how banning bursting of crackers for a day on Diwali can cleanse the Delhi Air which remains polluted round the year  

 

Delhi has a huge problem of pollution throughout the year and becomes a gas chamber during winter season.    In the last 4-5 years it has crossed danger levels on every yardstick.   This situation has arisen mainly due to:

 

• ·      Heavy pollution emission by vehicles specially transport vehicles viz., buses, lorries and diesel cars
• ·      Stubble burning by formers of Haryana/Punjab.    There been a slug fest on these issues between Delhi – Haryana – Punjab Governments for a very long time with little relief from this menace
• ·         Construction work in NCR.  
• ·      Industrial pollution by small and medium industries in industrial and non-residential areas thriving legally and illegally

 

Why the Tokenism of banning Crackers and thumping chests?

Our politicians and Government has a great ability to divert and deflect the attention of the public from critical issues and as far the perpetual and perennial pollution problem is concerned the Delhi Government has done precious little than tokenism of banning bursting of crackers during Diwali.   It is also fashionable for certain sections of the society to take such stands to be looked upon as educated, elite and responsible towards society without of course going into logics of it.  

There is no denying of the fact that firecrackers do contribute to the pollution, but the mute question is for how long crackers are burnt during Diwali and how much is the contribution due to burning of firecrackers towards Delhi over pollution levels.  Crackers are burnt on the day of Diwali and may be a day before and day after once in a year and going by any statistics its share is miniscule compared to the overall pollution contribution in the Capital by other factors.    So if one considers round the year pollution in the capital what purpose will the ban on firecrackers and reduction of pollution for a day serves?   It’s nothing but an absolute tokenism

What it really robs of: 

First and foremost, it robs the children of the great fun which they look forward for entire year.   Personally, as a child I have thoroughly enjoyed Diwali and burning of firecrackers and look forward for entire year.    I and my friends used to make some of the crackers and enjoy burning those more than the ones we purchased from the market.   The child in me stayed on for very long as far as burning crackers is concerned though the noisy bombs gave way to phool ghadis and anars.   When my daughters were young, I used to look forward for Diwali festivities including burning crackers with them.   Not only in India but all over the world burning of crackers is part of many celebrations.    We often watch videos coming from various parts of the world where crackers are burnt for hours together as part of some celebrations.    Even in India during marriage and other celebrations, various festivals specially Diwali crackers are burnt.    Even the politicians (including successive Delhi Governments which have banned firecrackers during Diwali in Delhi) burn crackers as part of their election victories.  So while children all over India enjoy Diwali bursting crackers Delhi kids are deprived and forced to run around black marketers to purchase few crackers at exorbitant prices to keep their children happy.  Today in the evening my Neighbour came with his 5 years old daughter to wish me Diwali and on my enquiry he told that she was crying for two days for crackers, and he could not find them, and he is going again to market to try his luck.   That is the hardship the Children and their parents are put to 

What Government should do before it comes to the ban of Crackers?

Government and the Hon’ble courts including the Delhi HC and Supreme courts should wield the whip cracking down on the following before they pat their backs on the efforts made by them in reducing pollution by banning crackers in Delhi

    Vehicle pollution:   Complete ban on the polluting vehicles specially transport vehicles.   Heavy penalties and immediate impounding of the polluting vehicles and cancellation of the licenses for minimum 5 years. 

2.     Reducing the number of vehicles on the road:  Every possible measure should be taken for reducing the number of vehicles on Delhi roads which are the biggest contributors to pollution in Delhi.    Some of the suggested measures are

• ·        Even Odd formula for vehicles on a permanent basis

 

• ·      Banning or levying heavy fee on people travelling in cars alone.     I often finds the elite socialites who take so much pride in their support for banning crackers in Diwali go in their cars all alone throughout the year, their spouse and each of the children in their respective cars all alone polluting Delhi round the year.    With technology available it is not difficult to spot such vehicles on the road where there is only single passenger and charge from them a heavy fee so that either they use public transport like Metro or pool the cars.  Let these educated and rich socialites do more than just mere `lip service’

3.    Stubble burning in neighboring states:   So many things are invented in the country and in the world, but our governments are not able to find an alternate solution to the farmers stubble burning.    For political reasons there is no ban or even if there is one there is no serious enforcing of the same by our Politicians.   When AAP was not ruling Punjab the Delhi CM used to shout from roof tops about the menace of stubble burning and expressed his inability in controlling pollution as the other political parties ruling neighboring states are not heeding to him, but after coming to power in Punjab he is muted on this issue.    The farmers are burning stubble with vigor and making every day a Diwali for Delhietes  as far as Pollution levels are concerned 

4.    Industrial pollution:   If stubble burning is coming across from the neighboring states, the industrial pollution is the enemy within.     Delhi is full of illegal and unauthorized small and medium size industries operating from residential and non-industrial areas.     The pollution caused by these units and other authorized industrial units in designated industrial areas are enormous.   No political party can dare to touch them and shut them as they are one of the biggest source of funding for elections.   The political parties raise a bogie of livelihood and employment when the question of shutting them comes up and they keep thriving unabated 

5.  Construction activities: Thanks to National Green Tribunal, of late we have been educated of the pollution created by construction activities all round India and specially in NCR.   NGT has swung into action and brought construction guidelines and many times closed down construction activities in NCR.    Strict enforcement of these guidelines not only reduce the air pollution but noise pollution too.

Children all over the India/world enjoy Diwali inter alia burning crackers why to deprive the children of Delhi the fun.    The Delhi population which is putting up and living on with all pollution all-round the year, can surely manage with one more day of pollution.     It is also the question of livelihood of thousands of people who are into manufacture and are part of the supply chain of these crackers.  

If anyone asks me don’t you think banning of crackers will reduce pollution and should not we ban burning of cracker on Diwali in Delhi and/or anywhere else in India, I would borrow Salim Javed dialogue from Deewar to answer them.

Main Akele sign nahi karoonga, Main pehle sing nahi karoonga, ……jaav us aadmi se sign leke avo….. jaav us aadmi se sign leke avo ……….uske baad jis kagaz par sign karne keliye  kahoge us par sign karoonga

Akele Fire Crackers ko ban mat karo, Fire Crackers ko pehle Ban matkaro.   Pehle Stubble Burning ko Ban Karo, Pehle Vehicle pollution ko Ban karo, Pehle Industrial pollution ko Ban karo, Pehle Construction Pollution ko Ban karo………………….. uske baad Fire Crackers ko jaroor Ban karo.  

The Delhi Government should realize that the Pollution created round the year by Construction, Vehicle and Industrial pollution and Pollution by stubble burning during winters are the real Elephant in the room which they are ignoring and burning of Firecrackers are the Butterfly they are happy chasing.  Moreover, who does not know or acknowledge that liquor ruins the health and blow the hard-earned money of people specially from lower strata of the society.    It is hard to digest that Delhi Government who gave liquor licenses left right center for reasons best known to all really bothers about the health of people of Delhi due to pollution  

Lastly there is ofcourse the theory of targeting Hindu festivals which I am not touching upon so that I am not blamed for giving a communal twist

Happy Diwali.  

S. Prabhakar

24.10.2022

 

 

AMITABH – THE EVEREST OF HINDI CINEMA 

A wesome

M arvelous

I ncredible

T errific

A mazing

B rilliant

H umble

Amitabh Bachchan, is one of the greatest and legendary actor India has ever produced and the most enduring and peerless Bollywood actor.  His family and millions of his fans all over the Globe are celebrating his 80^th Birthday today the 11^th October, 2022.   Besides other things, many of his super hit movies of 80s and 90s of  Amitabh are being screened for last one week in various cities of India.   He has been reigning the Hindi Film industry close to half a century and still going strong with some meaning contributions -   his latest Hindi movie 'Goodbye'  hitting the silver screen last Friday.  

Earlier Struggle days: Amitabh is neither born with a silver spoon nor his entry into Hindi movies a smooth sailing one (though his father Mr Harvasha Rai Bachchan was a renowned and highly respected poet).   Its Irony that Amitabh who later on was hailed for his commendable baritone voice, dialogue delivery and oratory skills was first rejected by All India Radio over his voice quality and its unsuitability for a position of announcer.   It’s unimaginable to any of his fans that he could get one of his earlier breaks (given by Sunil Dutt) in Reshma aur Shera on the basis of a written recommendation letter from none other than Mrs. Indira Gandhi due to his father’s closeness to Nehru family.   Not only this, Amitabh has delivered over a dozen duds, acted with small banners, producers, directors and heroines, second leads (even a negative character in a Navin Nishal movie `Parvana’) his tall, lanky frame, long nose and nonromantic image not taking him anywhere.   Of all people it is the hero role given by Comedian Mehmood in the super hit comedy `Bombay to Goa’ which not only gave him first major hit movie, recognition but more importantly helped him in getting noticed by Prakash Mehra who was looking for a suitable hero for Zanjeer.   After being rejected by Dharmender, Raj Kumar, Dev Anand the meaty role fell in the lap of Amitabh and as they say `rest is history’.

The Consolidation phase:  Apart from Zanjeer, two movies which made people to take a serious note of Amitabh were both with the then reigning first Super Star of Hindi cinema Rajesh Khanna `Namak Haram’ and `Anand’.   No one, least of all Rajesh Khanna, could have ever imagined that Amitabh will not only topple Rajesh Khanna so soon but end the Romantic era and start a new `Angry Youngman Image’ and bring a wave of Action movies in Hindi with lot of dialogue-baji with iconic super hit movies like Sholay, Deewar, Trishul,  Amar Akbar Anthony, Don and Maqqadar ka Sikandar.  By end of 70s the Hindi industry has accepted that the Romantic era and the magic of Rajesh Khanna (a very short lived one for about 6 years and a record number of 16 back and back super hits between 1969 and 1974) was over and Amitabh Action image is going to stay with more and more newcomers like Vinod Khanna, Mithun, Shatru, Feroz Khan besides the old guards Dharmender and Sunil Dutt all thriving in Action oriented movies.

Partnering with Big Banners:  Film industry has always believed in `Chadte Suraj ko Salaam’.   With super success of movies in mid 70s Amitabh became the preferred choice of all big banners/producers like Yash Johar, Yash Chopra, GP Sippy, Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai and started the Multi starrer trend with fantastic pairing with Vinod Khanna, Sashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor.   One of the biggest contributors to the success of Amitabh were star writers Salim-Javed with very powerful author-based roles and resounding dialogue right from Zanjeer till they separated in early 80s.   Thanks to their powerful dialogues, Amitabh has become very popular for his dialogue delivery – which remained as the most enduring aspects of Amitabh.    With Amitabh being on a roll, many new producers/banners used to line up to make movies with Amitabh.    Riding on super success, Amitabh started experimenting and sought a make-over from his image of `Angry Young Man’ to a romantic one in movies like Kabhi Kabhi and Manzil and comedy in Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony and Mr. Natwarlal.   Right through 80s and till mid 90s Amitabh remained the undisputed Shehanshah of Hindi industry and his popularity has gone much beyond Hindi belt with movies like Sholay, Deewar, AAA and Don doing extremely well in Southern belt and other states.  

Foray into Politics and Business: following the foot steps of southern stars, from 80s onwards Hindi actors also started entering Politics to encash their popularity and mass base.   Understandably, Amitabh, a good friend of Rajiv Gandhi and whose family has long standing relations with Nehru family, contested Lok Sabha elections on Congress ticket and defeated seasoned politician Bahuguna.   But as always happens in politics, he fell out with Rahul family.  But having bitten by politics bug he joined hands with Amar Singh (the one-time foster brother) and Mulayam singh Yadav.   Though he never contested elections but put his Jaya in the race.  

Amitabh is one of the early Hindi actors who has entered the corporate world with ABCL.   But his business ventures specially his sponsoring World beauty contest in Bangalore brought him to the brink of bankruptcy.   

Dip in the career:  he had a double whammy when in deep financial crisis, the mid age crisis too has hit him.   With age catching up he found himself neither being young nor angry and he was unwilling to accept old and character roles.   His movies under trusted banner like Prakash Mehra (Jadugar) and Manmohan Desai (Ganga Jamuna and Saraswati) and Lal Badhsah have bombed at boxoffice without trace.    New crop of heros like Mithun, Govinda, and all three khans have established themselves and all big banners started flocking them.   With this the days of Amitabh as a young hero have numbered and till then no actor has successfully transformed into roles that suited their age and bowed out.

The Grand Second Innings: While in deep crisis, to avoid letting his company going to bankruptcy Amitabh got an offer from Pronnoy Roy to host a quiz show named `Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) to clear his financial dues.  That was the first time an iconic star like Amitabh debuted in small screen on TV.   By that time Amitabh was not only has acquired iconic status not only for his dialogue delivery in the movies, but also for his oratory skills, government advertisements for social messaging.    This has helped him to slip into host role in KBC with commensurate ease.  KBC has become unprecedented success and still going strong in its 14^th season till date and there are many regional versions being hosted by top stars in respective industries.    It has not only helped Amitabh to pay off all his debts but has become a big money spinner for him.   The popularity of KBC has catapulted Amitabh into top bracket in Advertising and there is hardly any major brand which he has not endorsed for eye popping fee.  

While Amitabh was doing well with KBC and Advertisement, he still struggled in regaining his lost ground in movies.    Around that time, he went back to his old friend Yash Chopra with a request to help him with any role in his forthcoming movies.   Then came the partially grey hair. white beard and elderly role in Mohabatein in 2000 which has not only a grand success but fetched Amitabh Filmfare award for best supporting actor.   More importantly the movie has shown the way forward to Amitabh, no more young man no more angry, no more leading roles, and no dance and fights. Amitabh has repositioned himself to accept character roles with new banners, new producers, director and younger co-stars.   With each passing movie Amitabh rediscovered many shades of himself and given some sterling performances in movies like Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gum, Black, Kabhi Alvida Na kehna, Piku, Pink, Badla, 102 not out and his latest movie Goodbye which has release last Friday.    It is amazing that he is as prolific if not more in his second innings and his demand is not going down even at the age of 80 years.   He has 3-4 releases a year and 4-5 movies are on the floors all the time.   

An Inspirational life journey:

After 50 years in public life, Amitabh has not only inspirational to those who are in film industry but people in general in all walks of life have something to learn and be inspired on account of

·         His tenacity and perseverance

·         His never say die attitude

·         His hunger to learn and rediscover himself over and over again

·        The way he bounces back despite huge health issues (life threatening accident while shooting for movie `coolie’), Asthma and Thalassemia.   He kept requesting to allow elderly above 70 years to work during carona

·       His great oratory skills and ability to convey things most convincingly.   He has rendered his voice in large number of Government social messages over TV and Radio.  

·         His dignified and matured conduct in public

·         Humble and down to earth behavior

·         His benevolent attitude to acknowledge the talent and achievements of his co-stars

·         Ability to make an impact howsoever small the role is – a quality which he has developed in the last 10 years or so.

Amitabh will go down in the history of Indian cinema as one of the most endearing actors who kept himself motivated and focused even at the age of 80 years in a highly demanding movie industry.   He richly deserves Dadasaheb Palke Award, Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibushan and love and affection he receives from Millions of his fans.   

Wishing him health and prosperity and hope he continues to entertain his fans for another 20 years till he completes a Century.

S. Prabhakar

11.10.2022