SACHIN – ARE YOU UPHOLDING THE DIGNITY OF `BHARAT RATNA’?

Disclaimer : In a country where Cricket is the most Secular Religion saying anything against Sachin is considered to be blasphemy.  As far as cricket is concerned, Sachin continues to be one of my most favourite cricketer along with Kapil Dev, Viv Richards and Ian Bhotham – all four being the most impact players, who could win any match on their own strength.   This article is result of the few aspects of non-cricketing side of Sachin which disappoints me and many of his fans.

Sachin – should he be considered as God?

In a movie and cricket crazy country like India, often crazy fans treat their idols as God/Demi-Gods.   Though I am not in favour of any blind following in any field, I can still digest this status being bestowed on a movie star because he/she is pitted against stars of hundreds of countries which are into movie making and the canvass is really huge. Come to think of it, hardly 10 nations play cricket and 4 out of them are docile and pedestrian – that leaves only 6 actives teams in the fray.   Out of close to 200 countries only 10 countries play a sport called Cricket and to consider someone who achieved a distinction of scoring 100 hundreds as GOD is too much of magnanimity.

Sachin – The cricketer

So much is written about Sachin the Cricketer that anything more on that may sound to be repetitive.  What always impressed me the most about Sachin is his work ethics and discipline as a cricketer on and off the field which is exemplary and that is something which everyone should emulate in their respective professions.  As the advertisement tag line goes, he eat cricket, he drank cricket and he slept cricket.  How much his discipline and single minded devotion towards cricket helped him can be gauged from making a comparison between his success and the failure of his childhood friend and contemporary Vinod Kamble.  Being a left-handed batsman, VK was considered to be more stylish and equally prolific to begin with and scored two double centuries at faster clip than Sachin.   But unfortunately see how VK has tripped and could never get up and regain his rightful place, due to his wayward way of living.   Sachin always remained a great family man, sober, grounded and had a matured head over his shoulder which he managed to keep there only.

Sachin – the Records making machine :

In his illustrious career Sachin has broken almost all conceivable records.  Though he was very dominating and absolutely copy book style, many felt that he lacked the spark of Richards and appetite for huge scores like Brain Lara.   If one looks at his various innings he was absolutely dominating till he crossed hundred and laboured after crossing 150 and lost steam once crossed double hundred.   That is the reason even after playing 200 tests triple century eluded him.  The biggest advantage Sachin had was that at his peak the Indian cricket team was playing highest number of tests in a year compared to the days of Don Bradman or even Gavaskar, making it easier for him to accumulate large number of runs.   Unlike his Australian and South African counterparts, Sachin never seemed to be playing for joy and for the benefit of the team rather than be self centric and record oriented.  Sachin has never pardoned Dravid for declaring the innings in the Team interest when he was close to scoring double century.   When Dravid was facilitate by BCCI for his life time achievements, every top cricket turned up for the function but Sachin gave it a miss though the venue in Mumbai was across the street where Sachin was staying.   Sachin had literally laboured towards the end of his career and received flak from many quarters for his lack of form, almost forgetting where his middle stump was and letting all and sundry bowlers sending his middle stump for a walk.   As Imran Khan rightly said the winning stage of the World cup should have been befitting for Sachin to announce his retirement.   But he has his eyes firmly set on 100 hundreds and BCCI was hell bent on giving him chance after chance to achieve this land mark even at the cost of a critical place in the final XI being blocked and sabotaging the winning chances of India team.   Such was the craze and obsession of Sachin for getting his name written in record books. On the subject of retirement Gavaskar once said that a player should retire when people ask `why retire now’ rather than wait for them to ask `why not retire now’ and Sachin has reached the second stage much before his retirement and ultimately it has been announced only after the then tough man of BCCI Sandeep Patil had a open and frank talk with him that either you announce retirement or get dropped from the Team.

Sachin – The Money Making Machine

Along with smashing records Sachin, as a sportsperson has also broke all records in making money through endorsements.   This mad chase behind the money has put Sachin to much of malice.   No one will have any grouse if you wish to make hey while the sun is shining.    But Sachin has miserably failed in showing the same amount of dignity in making money as he did in playing cricket.   This must be something to do with Bombay/Mumbai `hawa paani’  which teaches one `that the whole thing is sub se bada rupayya’.   He chased money as religiously, if not more, as he chased runs and records.  I really do not find anything wrong in anyone making money honestly but one expects some amount of dignity from an iconic person of Sachin stature.   What pained me the most was that when he was sure to be selected in T20 team he found that he was not of right age to play T20 matches for India and opted out.  But very closely following that comes IPL, he found himself to be youthful enough to play for Mumbai Indian team for few seasons simply because Ambani’s could pay him vulgar amounts of money compared to what

BCCI paid for playing in T20 matches.   Sachin not taking pride in representing the country in any form of the game is a crying shame.  Despite the fact he was earning hundreds of crores through endorsements, for importing the Ferrari presented to him he approached Government for special waiver of customs duty which the Government has readily obliged as if it was waiving farmers’ loans.   And it is a pity that he sold the same Ferrari on which he got customs duty exemption and made profit out of it.    One would have expected him to pay back the customs duty exempted even at that time but that weren’t to be.  

In case of a person of Sachin Standing how he spends his money also matters.   No one deny him the right to spend his hard earned money the way he wants but one would expect him to believe in some measure `giving back something to the Society’ which is practically unheard in his case.   You would hardly hear Sachin’s name in any major charity work, either donating his money, or donating his time and goodwill except few Government social welfare advertisement which most of the celebrities do to be in the good books of the Government to be in reckoning for Padma Awards.   One often listen the name of Gautam Ghambir and Viran Kohli when it comes to charity.   Ghambir surely has earned much less compared to Sachin but it is not the question of having deep pocket but larger heart.  

Is Sachin upholding the dignity of Bharat Ratna/Parliament Membership?

An ABSOLUTE NO.   Sachin has been nominated to Rajya Sabha.  But though he is coming to the close of his six year terms his attendance percentage is absolutely pathetic and in single digits.   Less said the better about his participation in debates and moving private motions.   He let go a great opportunity to highlight the plight of non cricketing sports persons, in the Parliament and strive hard to get some bills passed for the welfare of the sports persons.  He could have followed the footsteps of Javed

Aktar.  When a huge hue and cry was made questioning his absenteeism from Parliament sessions, he raised a boggy that his brother was undergoing treatment for heart ailment and wanted to take care of him and applied for leave of absence.   But during the same period  he managed to take time out to go all the way to Vijayawada (in Andhra Pradesh)  to inaugurate a private shop – no marks to guess that it is for hefty fee and not for charity.  

Just take a look at this photo taken at a sales meet of a water purifier company.   Sachin’s leg was put under heavy supporters and it was not easy for him to walk without pain and being helped.   But see his commitment towards `Commercials’.   Mind you this event has happened in Delhi and not in Mumbai and how much of special efforts he has taken to make it to the event.   The same person even when he was in a position to walk and move comfortably had never had the same commitment and interest to attend Parliament.   So he neither thinks himself to be Parliamentarian nor its Brand ambassador.   The handsome allowances and freebies worth lakhs of rupees of the tax payers’ money is no motivator for Sachin to make frequent guest appearances to Parliament.   Sachin and his die hard fans could turn around and say that he has not craved for it nor sought to be nominated, but there is no denying that even if the than Government wanted to nominate him for whatever benefit they were looking at, he had to accept the nomination to be sent to Parliament.   What stopped him from politely refusing the offer saying that he will not be able to devote his time being very busy with his commercial assignments – the way he did in case of representing India in T20 matches?  After being a Parliamentarian  is not such unimportant position to be taken so lightly and in a country of over billion people there is no shortage of talent to represent in Parliament.   For six long years he blocked the seat without doing anything but enjoying the name and fame of being a Parliamentarian and some perqs and lifelong pension.

The biggest controversy of Sachin’s life has been his being conferred Bharat Ratna on the last day in the office, ahead and at the cost of host of more deserving candidates specially Late Major Dhanchand. Unfortunately, cricket crazy fans of India (which includes many decision makers in Government) are blinded to many facts and refuse to acknowledge any sporting contributions beyond cricket, either in team sports like Football and Hockey or individual sports like Badminton, Tennis and Athletics.   How competitive Cricket is, which is played by a mere 10 nations in the world compared to Football, Hockey, Tennis, Badminton and Athletics which are played by hundreds of nations and what is the comparative worth of the achievements in Cricket.   It is like someone scoring 500 points in `Kabbadi’ and if any one does that, can anyone with any degree of sanity suggest that he deserves Bharat Ratna.   If one looks at the illustrious list of recipients of the coveted `Bharat Ratna’ the short Sachin gets further dwarfed.   Most of the Bharat Ratna awardees have put not less than 50 to 60 years of selfless and dedicated service to the nation through their chosen profession and conducted themselves with highest degree of dignity that reverence comes so naturally for them.    Who can take the name of  Sachin in the same breath as the Divinity personified MS Subba Lakshmi, Lata Mangeshkar, Bismilla Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, CV Raman, Sarvepalli Radha Krishnana, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Ambedkar, Vinoba Bhave and Abdul Kalam. 

At the least once he was honoured with the highest civilian award, he should have bothered to conduct himself in such a way which behoves being Bharat Ratna.  We still find him in any type of advertisements and as if it is not enough, he sits in the dug outs and designated area for technical staff of `Mumbai

Indians’ IPL team, building the Brand of MI for his masters Ambanis for hefty fee.   He never finds time to devote for any NGOs, sports academies for less privileged budding sportspersons.   He has got so much from the Society but hardly paid anything back to the Society.   How I wish he bothers to take a leaf from Pullela Gopichand who has devoted his entire post retirement life in shaping the future of hundreds of budding badminton players and already produced couple of Olympic medal winners.  It is reported that he reaches his academy at 3:30 am and spends the entire day there personally supervises the progress of top prospects like Saina, Sindhu, Srikant and many more.   He has no other life than his academy.  Sachin, the Bharat Ratna, pales  in comparison with Gopichand.  

I admit that it is no fault of Sachin.   RaGa (whatever thinking capabilities he possess) and the Government at that time thought that they can get sabahi from the billions of cricket crazy` janta’ (which could get converted into votes) on hurriedly conferring Bharat Ratna on Sachin.    May be he is not willing to realise his responsibility as `Bharat Ratna’ and leave any opportunity to make few more bucks by endorsing any product, attending any commercial event, sit out in stands for MI. 

  Returning `Bharat Ratna’ may be disrespectful but surely Sachin can offer to keep his `Bharat Ratna’ in abeyance / suspended for the time being as long as he does not attain the maturity and dignity to handle the most prestigious award.    This way he may be able to redeem some of the lost respect and adulation from millions of fans likes me.

S. Prabhakar

25.5.17

BAHUBALI – 2 – THE CONCLUSION – A SPECTACULAR CINAMTIC EXPERIENCE

First things First, Bahubali-2 The Conclusion (B-2) is not a cinema but a cinematic experience, a spectacular visual splendor with a matching gripping story line, dramatic scenes and stellar performances.  Made at something like 1/10^th of a Hollywood movie's budget to create such visual feast matching Hollywood standards is incredible.
Director S S Rajamouli visualised a Telugu movie to be an Indian movie but it turned out to be a successful International movie grossing over Rs. 1000 crores with national and international media hailing it as a fantastic superhero movie with a heart and soul (I may add song and dance too) which is missing in most of the Hollywood fantasy movies.   It is so hard to believe that almost the entire movie is shot in Ramouji Film city in Hyderabad and a 100 acre land in Nallore (predominantly for the battle  scenes).   Both production and post production work is done in AP/T and no part in any Hollywood studios. Many might have missed out that there can be no better campaign for PM Modi's `Make in India' Campaign than Bahubali 1&2.    It broke the glass ceilings and boundaries and the  entire Indian film industry including Hindi film industry giving it a free run in the second week also to pull on its full steam.  In Andhra and Telengana more than 95% theaters in the State were running only B-2 and it is so in most other parts of India with a  unprecedented release in whopping 9000 screens all over the world. 

The much anticipated concluding part B-2, has more than lived up to the  Himalayan like high expectations.    There were two most enduring questions in Indian film industry, people knew the answer for the first one (`kitne aadmi the’ by Gabbar Singh in Sholay) and the other one which kept everybody guessing for almost two years  is `Katappane ne Bahubali ko kyon maara’.   It was a master stroke by Rajamouli the way he ended the first installment, at the risk of it termed as abrupt, but succeeded in generating and keeping alive  so much curiosity.

Whether the revelation of the secret behind the much talked about question satisfied the audience or not, but the movie casts such a magical spell while it is on that the audience will be transported into a dream world and forget everything and start drowning themselves in the  spectacle unleashed by Rajamauli and his team of technicians. 

B1 vs B2 :  B-1 at that time was the most lavishly mounted movie with spectacular water fall scenes and breath taking battle scenes.   It has great computer generated locales, gloss, great songs and music apart from action scenes.  When coming to B-2 putting same ingredients in same measure would have become repetitive but it is very essential that it should atleast match the first one.   So Rajmouli cleverly chose to focus, besides the spectacles,  on a gripping narrative and very well conceived dramatic scenes with fantastic background music and sets to enhance the scenes.  Rajamouli has succeeded in extracting best out of all actors that were there in B-1, but the surprise

element of B-2 is Anushaka as younger Devasena.   She carried the role with such fineness and gave run for money to seasoned Ramya Krishna as Rajmata Shivagamini.   For Ramya krishana (one of the leading heroin of 80s in Telugu/Tamil), who is
pulled out of her retirement,  it is role of her life time and she delivered the best.   Like B-1, in B-2 too Prabhas has walked away with all kudos both as Amerendra and Mehendra Bahubali with a very restrained, measured performance showing Royalty in every frame.  He worked within his limitations and did not go for over-emoting dialogue-baazi which he is
not comfortable with in any case and which would not have helped the cause while dubbing in other languages specially in Hindi.   Rana, as Ballaldeva,  proved to be a formidable opponent to Prabhas, the seasoned Tamil Actors did great job -  Nasar, as Bijjaladeva,  was menacingly cunning (reminding Shakuni of Mahabharat), Satyaraj as Katappa is competent and added a bit of humour in this sequel.   In this magnum opus the technician team did fabulous job and made every Indian proud  – special mention due to VFX team headed RC Kamal Kannan, for the splendid special effects, Vijayendra Prasad for gripping story, KK Senthil Kumar for capturing each frame so beautifully,  Sabhu crysal for magnificent sets specially the Mahishmati kingdom and the queen’s court, MM Keeravani for excellent mood enhancing background music (though the songs were a bit of let down compared to B-1), Rama Rajamauli for very pleasing costumes  and expats King Soloman, Keecha & Peter heins for action scenes.   Two people need a special mention and appreciation.  Keeravani for very engaging back ground music.   Very rarely we find Indian music directors conducting back ground music specially.   Till very recently back ground was not treated as a work needing attention and left to assistants who used to play tapes of old music pieces without bothering whether they are going with the scene.   In this movie in each frame, specially dramatic scenes the back ground score did magic.  The other one is the costumes designed by Rama because hailing from Andhra/Telangana, and growing up on NTR fantasy movies of 60s, there was
always a danger of becoming a victim of fixation regarding
consumes of a King consisting of a stretchlan pant and a heavily embroidered skirt type of top, with a thin sword hanging on to a side which was used in hundreds of Telugu movies starring NTR and Kanta Rao.  When few of these movies were remade in hindi
(Gora aur Kala with Rajendra Kumar & Rajkumar with Shammi Kapoor, they could not carry these types of costumes and ultimately they used some consumes which were looking like what our Bandwalas wear at marriages.    The costumes used in B-2 were looking very ethnic and Prabhas carried on the very nicely drapped colourful dhoti very well even in high octane  Action scenes,  

The Magnificent Mouli (SS Rajamouli) : No words of praise is enough for SS Rajamouli for visualizing B-2 so big and his conviction that he can pull off a regional movies with Telugu and Tamil stars into an Indian movie breaking all the barriers of regionalism.    While making the movie (both  1 & 2) he very well knew that he cannot recover his cost unless it is a grand success at an all India level, but still did not bother to add any Hindi actor in the star cast.   Making a full length sequel movie with story inter-oven is not an easy task.

Even greats like K Asif and Ramesh Shippy could not recreate the magic of Maghal-e-azam and Sholay in their life time whereas Rajamouli has done it back to back.   His stamp of authority is there in every frame, the tight script, beautiful and well defined characterization, gripping scenes between the principal characters, stellar performance by every actor, dazzling special effects and splendid back ground score.   Even after stupendous success of B-1, he did not hurry the second part to encash on the popularity.  As has been his style of working, he took almost two years to get the second part ready.      Like in every walk of life, we are quite regionalised in movie going habits  and Telugu movies have very restricted market in Andhra, Telangana and few areas of TN and Karnataka beside US market with major migrated Telugu population.   Though almost all Telugu movies get dubbed in Hindi for telecasting in various Hindi channels, but Telugu movies never had successful direct release in Hindi.  With this sort of back ground he dared to conceive a movie as an Indian movie to appeal to all India market.

The dare devil Producers : Though all praise is showered on Rajamouli for his genius talent, but
equal credit should go to Raghavendra Rao, Shobu and Prasad, the producers of the movie for not compromising  on a mind blowing Budget  and backing this mega dream of Rajamouli.   Their decision to pump in over Rs. 250 crores per each installment for a Telugu movie defies all logic.   With no dubbed movie making any headway in theatrical releases and just relegated to screening by TV channels,  to think of making it big on an All India basis can be termed as a crazy wild dream.    Another pleasing and praise worthy thing about this successful trio is they allowed director Rajamouli to hog all limelight   Very rare to see such modesty

Box office Bonanza : Like the first instalment B–2 broke all Box office records leaving the highest grosser Hindi movie till date to a very distant  second and raised the bar many notches.    It crossed
the magical figure of over Rs. 1000 crores in first 8 days of its release and notched up a mind blowing Rs. 1230 crores in first 10 days of its release and still counting.  

  

It now holds the record for highest grosser for a Telugu Movie, Hindi movie, Dubbed movie, Indian movie in US, UK, UAE and many countries.   It also holds a unique distinction of collections of over Rs. 100 crores on 7 days out of the first 8 days as shown below:

Day                                  total collection

                                         (in crores)

1^st                                           121

2^nd                                          116

3^rd                                           147

4^th                                           108

5^th                                           116

6^th                                           124

7^th                                             98

8^th                                           103

If a Hindi movie with all India release crosses Rs. 100 crores mark it is declared as a hit movie, what  can one term movie with such mind-blowing collections.                                                     

What it means to Telugu/South Indian/Indian movies :  The Success of B-2 is going to change the dynamics of the Telugu and South Indian movie market that has suffered for over a half a century due stereo typing.   Great actors like NTR (with unbelievable variety of roles he essayed specially in mythological and fantasy movies which deserved all India/international recognition), SVR, Savitri singer Ghantasala from Telugu, Shivaji from Tamil, Rajkumar from Kannada and Prem Nazir from Malayalam industries never had any recognition beyond their respective States.   No more a Telugu/South Indian hero means a short, dusky, dhoti wearing pot bellied 50 plus hero emoting dramatic dialogues with heavy accent.   The tall, well built and handsome Prabhas and beefy Rana can stand up to any Hindi or Hollywood stars.   The Hindi movie goers are still to catch the charms of Mahesh Babu and fantastic dance moves of Allu Arjun.   Prabhas who stands 6^th to 8^th in rankings of Telugu popular heros (before Bahubali) and was not know beyond Andhra/Telangana has become a household name after both versions of Bahubali.    The same goes to Duggupati Rana (grandson of Telugu movie moghal D. Rama Naidu and nephew of well know Telugu star Venkatesh).   This will open flood gates for Telugu/Tamil movies, which are made with very high production values to have all India release.    Encouraged by the success of Bahubali, Mahesh

Babu (the most glamorous and stylish Telugu actor) next Telugu movie is being readied for simultaneous release in Tamil and Hindi.   Prabhas next social fantasy `Sahoo’ trailer is already tagged with B-2 in theatres.   Rajnikath (who has better brand on an all india basi) next Robo 0.2 is the next much awaited movie that too expected to shake the box office.

The international film world will take a serious look at the talent of Indian actors, directors and technicians and their ability to producer mega scale movies at 1/10^th of the budgets they spend on.   Till now Hong Kong and Chinese could make an impact on Hollywood (thanks to action stars like Bruce Lee and Jackey Chan and directors like John Woo).   First it was the doctors from Hyderabad then software engineers who stormed the West and it is now turn of the Telugu film industry to shake the West.

What next for Rajamouli?: B-2 is the tenth Successful movie for Rajamouli (including equally well and lavishly mounted fantasy  movie `Maghadheera’  starring Chirajeevi son Ram charan, which broke all records of collection for a Telugu movie at that time) which according to me was a sure shot candidate for an all India release, though the producers did not venture).   He announced that he may take ten years to make a mega budget movie on Mahabharat and reports suggest that even Amir Khan has expressed his interest to be picked up for Krishna or Karna role.    But it will be a punishment for his die hard fans to wait that long.  In the meantime he surely can think of making a fantasy movie in the lines of super success Vithalacharya-NTR combination with lot of black magic, mega sets, horse rides, sword fights, characters turning into various animals and reptiles, half human and half stone etc.  That should give a great scope for him to unleash his genius talent once again.

Had this movie been made in English under some Hollywood banner it would have swept Oscars.   If Hollywood has its Ben Hur, Ten Commandments, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone with the Wind and Titanic, we have our BAHUBALI 1 & 2

TAKE A BOW TO THE ENTIRE CAST AND CREW OF BAHUBALI-2 FOR MAKING EVERY INDIAN MOVIE GOER PROUD

S. Prabhakar

10.5.17

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RIP – VINOD KHANNA – A STAR AND GENTLEMAN

Vinod Khanna, the most smart and handsome Hindi movie star has breathed his last today the 27^th April, 2017.  He will always be remembered as the only potential candidate in 1980s who could have marched ahead Amitabh Bhachan, may be for a brief period, but overall remained an under achiever, as a film star, for causes mainly attributable to him only.    

Vinod Khanna is one of those actors who made everything on his own, no linage, no favourite camp (though worked in many movies of Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra in 70s).   He had very modest beginning doing small side roles (in movies like Poorab aur Pashim, few south Indian remakes featuring Mehmood) and negatives roles.   He and his dashing personality got a great and enduring recognition in movies like Mera Gao Mera Desh (in memorable role of Daaku Jabbar Singh), Kache Dhage and Phool aur Phattar.   He exhibited great courage in accepting off-beat themes very early in his career with movies like `Mere Apne' and Intihaan, both brought him recognition and critical acclaim. 

  

Come 70s he blossomed into much sought after actor predominantly for his terrific personality, he was as tall as Amitabh Bachan, but surely better looking than him or any other contemporaries.   The advent of multi-starrers and his having no qualms in being part of multi starer movies have given a short in arm for his career in soaring peaks.   He worked close to 50 multi starrers in his entire career.   Though he paired with Rajesh Khanna, Jitender, Randhir Kapoor and Sashi Kapoor, his pairing with Amitabh has produced a string of super hits movies like Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar ka Sikender and Parvarish.   He was so popular in Multi Star set up that whatever may be the length of his role, he was reported to have been paid more than the leading pair in many movies, more than even Amitabh and Jitender.   

For some strange reasons despite his huge popularity and ability to carry movie on his shoulders, very few of his solo starers were super hits and racked big box office collection. Achanak,  Inkaar and Quid were pretty decent movies but such movies were few and far in between

The biggest block buster of his career was with his good friend

Feroz Khan Quarbani, which broke all box office records at that time.   That was the time when he could have gone on a signing spree of new and plump assignments, but he shocked the Bollywood by announcing turning into Sanyasi and follower of Rajnish.   From his film career point of view that was the biggest loss.   Though he came back and gave back to back hits with Insaaf and Satyameva Jayate, he could never reproduce the same magic.   Once in a while he excelled in his forte of multi starrers like Chandni,  Kudrat and towards the end of the career some interesting roles in Dabang series.

Another very good quality of Vinod Khanna was though, being as handsome as he was, and he joining Osho Ashram which was in new for many wrong reasons too, there was lot written about him by those who excel in yellow journalism.  Lot was written about cold war between him and Amitabh and his owing not to work with him after minor freak accident on the sets Muqudar Ka Sikander, he always maintained a dignified silence and never went public with any thing

Though not very flamboyant like Shatru, in politics he has been extremely successful getting elected to Lok Sabha from Gurdaspur four times, and at the time of his passing away he is sitting MP.  Unlike many celebrities he used to make himself available for the people of Gurdaspur and commanded healthy attendance in Parliament.   For short duration he discharged duties as Minister of State in Ministries of Tourism and also External Affairs. 

The other facet I know of him is as a Director of Companies.    I had the privilege of convening and attending many Board meetings in a hospitality chain having him as a Board member.   Again he was fairly regular in attending Board Meetings, turning up in time, be attentive and ask very intelligent and relevant questions about business development, occupancy, measures to improve occupancy and revenues.    

He continued to be active and healthy till late 60s before he was hit by the terminal cancer.  In the death of Vinod Khanna, we lost a simple, non-flamboyant, friendly, and handsome film star and Gentleman to the core

RIP

S. Prabhakar

27.4.2017

THE WINNER   OF  INDIAN IDOL 9^th EDITION

REVANT has emerged as  the winner of the Indian Idol 9 (including two editions of Jr.) which has not surprised anyone.    Right through the entire competition he had an edge over other competitors with his powerful voice and a voice conducive for playback singing.    Unlike Naga, who kept on fumbling and forgetting lyrics, Revant has mastered Hindi during the course of competition and presented himself very confidently which surely helped his cause.  

But overall this edition has been very disappointing.    Compared to earlier editions or reality shows in other channels the quality of the contestants is far from satisfactory.   As has always been, Sony Indian Idol seems to be focusing more on packaging and producing a glossy content for TV in a set pattern rather than spending any time in analysing the singing and giving tips to the contestants in improving their singing.     Naga fumbled and missed lyrics few times and KhudaBaksh has been very pedestal right through.    But a great sob story has been built around his modest back ground, which surely has been proved to be bit of a disadvantage and non level playing field for other contestants in getting required votes.    But i came to know through an article in Telugu news paper Enadu that Revant too had an equally modest back ground, losing his father before birth itself, mother bringing him up very hard way, he doing petty cateing jobs, which as revealed in the final show he did not like to share being personal things.   The judges tried to push Mrs. Narang into top ten by even bringing her back after being eliminated as she was suiting the channel requirement of being a newly married smart young girl to push their content in a sitcom manner.   

Indian Idol has always been everything other than about performances.  It is more of stage presence, glamorous makeovers, side stories with celebrities and everything that makes an interesting content for the channel,  rather than the real singing talent search.  

The audience voting pattern always surprises me, which seems not to be in favour of female contestants.    In this edition, going by the talent, variety, confidence, singing and delivery Mallavika Sundar seemed to be an Indian Idol material and her getting eliminated from the top 3 and KudhaBaksh and Nag making into top three at her cost was shocking.  

 

The terms and condition of eligibility itself seem to be giving advantage to some over other.     Like winner of 5^th edition  Sreeram, Revant too is already a play back singer sang few songs in Telugu including the very popular number `Manohari’ from Bahubali.    When it is termed as a Talent Search show, the presumption is that it is for amateurs and not professionals.   Someone who has already done playback singing can not be categorised as amateur.   

A thing one wishes from Indian Idol and other such reality shows is not encourage emotional outbursts at drop of hat by the contestants, their parents, judges and other relatives and channel making it more overdramatic by somber music at the stage of editing.    Emotions should be very personal and any person who has reached such stage like being top ten of an All India contests should not give an impression that they are there not because of their talent but because of their poor/modest back ground, their trials in life.   You win some and lose some, there is no need to sob uncontrollably when a contestant is eliminated.   It shows one’s weakness and lack of composure.   There are so many cricketers like Pathan brothers and even Sehwag, firstly they were not selected because they were poor and they do not sob on the pitch after being dismissed.    It is for the good of all the contestants, their relatives and judges to get over this irritating habit.   

In the top 4 contestants of this edition there were three south Indians (two Telugu speaking and one tamil speaking), 5^th edition winner Sreeram was from Hyderabad, the runner up of 2^nd edition Karunya was from Hyderabad but still Sony TV never thinks it necessary to hold auditions at any of the south Indian cities.   It may not be convenient to many talented south Indians to travel all the way to Mumbai or Delhi to take part in the auditions and many Kudha Bakhs from these states must be deprived of an opportunity of being part of this talent search show.   Next edition onwards hope Sony holds auditions in few South India cities too. 

Last but not the least SUNIL GROVER has rocked in the Finale programme with his fantastic energy

S. PRABHAKAR

2.4.2017