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Gere, Shilpa face complaints after street protests (LEAD)
 
New Delhi/Jaipur, April 17   After protests in several cities over Hollywood star Richard Gere's on-stage kiss and hug to Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, an NGO activist in New Delhi filed a police complaint while a Jaipur lawyer approached a court seeking action against the two.

Subodh Jain, head of a small NGO called Citizen Fundamental filed the complaint in the Man Sarovar police station in northeast Delhi.

"I have filed a police complaint against Gere for spreading obscenity at a public place and against Shetty for supporting him," Jain, a journalist-turned activist, told IANS.

Gere hugged Shetty, bent over her and planted several kisses on her cheeks during an AIDS awareness event at the Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar in the national capital Sunday evening.

The kissing episode raised the hackles of several conservative groups, with protestors coming out on the streets and burning effigies of the actors Monday.

Protests were staged in Kanpur, Varanasi (both in Uttar Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Mumbai and Delhi.

Jain said though such scenes are common in Bollywood movies, it could have been avoided in a public place - that too in front of thousands of truck drivers. He said police assured him they would take necessary steps after taking legal advice.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast Delhi) J. Singh said: "Since kissing is not banned in India, we have filed a police complaint but no FIR (first information report) has been registered."

In Jaipur, a complaint was filed in a court against Shetty and Gere for indulging in an "obscene act".

In the complainant, Poonal Chandra Bhandari, an advocate, accused the stars of committing "an obscene act" in public place - a crime under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

After hearing the complaint, the additional chief judicial magistrate sought by April 25 the video recording of the incident.

Section 294 of the IPC provides for up to three months in jail and/or suitable fine.
   

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'Kya Love Story Hai' - staple diet for romance fans
 
New Delhi, April 17   This is Tusshar Kapoor's first release after his successful film "Golmaal" and he is set to woo the audience as a carefree, happy-go-lucky young man in this romantic movie opening Friday.

Shot entirely in South Africa, "Kya Love Story Hai" is Lovely Singh's directorial debut and is all about love at first sight.

The story is centred on Arjun (Tusshar Kapoor), who inherits a huge fortune after his parents' death. His inheritance makes him ambitionless and lazy.

But his life changes when he meets Kaajal (Ayesha Takia), whose approach to life is completely the opposite of Arjun's. She is independent, believes in hard work and wants to marry someone who is self-made.

Arjun falls in love with her the very first time he sees her but Kaajal sees him just as an acquaintance. After a couple of meetings, Arjun finds out that Kaajal lost her mother
at a young age and her father was too busy to look after and comfort her.

Kaajal's approach towards life makes it difficult for Arjun to convey his love to her. So, he pours out his feelings on a letter without revealing the name.

A situation arises when Kaajal comes across the paper but she doesn't know to whom he is referring. Arjun deliberately asks her how she would reciprocate his love if she were the girl he was in love with?

Kaajal's reply leaves Arjun self-introspecting, making him mysteriously disappear from the scene.

In the meantime, a successful and snooty entrepreneur Ranvir (Karan Hukku) enters Kaajal's life. After a sequence of verbal scuffles with her, Ranvir realises that she would make an ideal life-partner because she was a stabilizing influence on him.

When Arjun returns, he finds Kaajal engaged to Ranvir.

Before taking up full-fledged direction, Lovely Singh assisted Satish Kaushik in films like "Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain" and "Shaadi Se Phele". Hope he does a better job than his mentor.
 

After Shilpa storm, Richard Gere cools off in Kathmandu
By Sudeshna Sarkar, 

Kathmandu, April 17   After triggering a storm in India for kissing actress Shilpa Shetty at a public campaign in AIDS awareness, Hollywood icon and Tibet activist Richard Gere arrived here unannounced, probably to cool off.

Even as Nepal's media reported the brouhaha in Mumbai where Shilpa's fans burned Gere's effigy, demanding an apology, the 58-year-old star traced his way back to Nepal, where he had first been in the 70s, for a quick visit.

While Nepal's media lay preoccupied with the happenings in its southern neighbour, Gere, accompanied by his secretary, flew in almost unnoticed by the local press.

The star of the 1990 blockbuster "Pretty Woman", which also featured Julia Roberts, Gere, who chairs the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), an organisation striving to uphold Tibetans' rights, will focus fresh attention on Tibetan refugees with his Kathmandu trip.

He is scheduled to visit the Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre in Kathmandu, where Tibetans, fleeing from China-controlled Tibet, stay under the supervision of the UN High Commission for Refugees till their onward journey to India is arranged.

Gere, one of the most high-profile followers of the Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of the Tibetans, had drawn fresh attention to the plight of the fleeing Tibetan refugees recently when he released a report compiled by ICT, that also described how Chinese border patrols had fired on unarmed women and children last year, killing a 17-year-old nun and taking young children prisoner.

Gere, known for his humanitarian work, is also a founding member of "Tibet House," a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture.

He has also been an active supporter of "Survival International", a worldwide organization supporting tribal peoples, donating them his £50,000 appearance fee after attending a Harrods's opening.

Also involved in AIDS awareness campaigns, Gere was in India earlier this week to take part in an event to promote safe sex and raise AIDS awareness among truck drivers, a high-risk group in India.

The campaign turned out to be hugely different from the ordinary sedate ones when Gere bent back Shilpa Shetty in a bear hug and kissed her several times on her cheek.

While his delighted audience whistled lustily, Shilpa's fans however took umbrage and the protests were taken up by the militant Hindu rightwing Shiv Sena, who demanded Gere apologise and leave India.

Morning calls at Dwarika's, Nepal's famed heritage hotel where celebrities prefer to stay, went unanswered with the staff saying the visitors were still sleeping.

Gere first came to Nepal in 1978 after getting his first break in Hollywood with "Looking for Mr. Goodbar".
 

Bachchans push India to a regressive low COMMENTARY)
By Minu Jain

The family that prays together stays together. That seems to be the mantra of the Bachchans as they hotfoot it from one temple to another in the run-up to son Abhishek's wedding to Aishwarya Rai. And a star struck nation, denied of any real news of the wedding of the year, eagerly laps up the superstitious journeys of Bollywood's numero uno family.

It's the year when archaic terms like 'manglik' jumped out of the matrimonial columns of newspapers to page one, when our screen idols moved out of the silver screen to grace temples across India as they bowed down to blind belief, and when the paparazzi failed to get any real news and compensated by covering every detail of the temple visits.

And filmdom's ultimate screen icon Amitabh Bachchan, wife Jaya, son Abhishek and to be daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, a formidable family unit with millions of rupees riding on them and millions of fans following every move, are singularly responsible.

From November, when Bollywood's hottest couple went public with their relationship, to now, the Bachchan family have been seen outside numerous temples genuflecting before the gods that be, and to every superstition in the book.

In a country where astrologers are consulted before business planners when starting a new venture, where a much-in-love couple has to call off their relationship because their horoscopes don't match, where women are relegated to second position and where religion and politics have come to make a combustible mix, the Bachchans aren't exactly the best role models.

They began their religious quest in November when they visited the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi in the dead of the night reportedly to get Ash married to a tree because she was a Manglik, astrologically Mars bearing.

It was the first confirmation that the couple were getting married. And photographs of the family, with a deglamourised Aishwarya's forehead smeared with vermilion, with Abhishek and his parents (and Samajwadi Party's Amar Singh of course) had the nation giddy with excitement.

From uber success and glamour, Aishwarya was suitably reduced to 'bahu' status, head bowed demurely and the Bachchans took on patriarchal dominance. Just like it is in much of feudal India.

It was also an opportunity for much of India to brush up on their terminology. Hey, what exactly is a Manglik? How does one describe the term? Do you really have to get married to a tree to ensure your husband doesn't die? Those were the questions doing the rounds of not only media offices that had to write the story, but also of many drawing rooms.

In the end, whether Aishwarya really got married to a peepul tree in Varanasi, a banana tree in a Bangalore temple and a god's idol in Ayodhya as was widely reported didn't really matter.

The damage had been done. Father-in-law Amitabh - rings of every stone and hue on his fingers obviously to ward off the evil eye flashing from every photograph - denied that she had done so. But who cared. By that time, the message had gone down. The powerful Bachchans are as susceptible to the worst kind of superstition as the next person.

To expect them to be different and help stem the regressive slide of Indian society would obviously be too much.

Since then, the media - and all of us - have faithfully followed their travels to the Vindhyavasini temple in Mirzapur on Amar Singh's birthday, their much publicised 15 km trek to the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai (the favourite of all the stars) and some more to help Aishwarya's smooth induction into the family.

In the latest, Bachchan senior and his confidants, industrialist Anil Ambani and Amar Singh, have visited the Tirupati temple and offered Rs.5.1 million each to the temple trust, one of the richest in the country. Amitabh, who is said to have also donated 100 kg of gold, placed a card for his son's wedding on April 20 at the deity's feet.

The motive was honourable no doubt - for poor children and hospital facilities in Tirupati. But Tirupati presumably doesn't need the money, other places could do more with it.

One of the few signs of protest came from a Bihar feminist lawyer, Shruti Singh, who filed a PIL against the Bachchans in the Patna High Court.

"The rituals performed by Aishwarya, Amitabh and Abhishek would only promote superstitions and blind faith among common people," says a furious Shruti.

It could so easily have been different. It is the same Amitabh who has been hugely successful in making a dent in the campaign against polio simply because he has such a huge following and people believe in him. He tells us what to drink, what suiting to wear and what battery to use.

He could also use his power over the people to deliver a progressive, rational message through his personal life.

But that is not to be.

If this can happen to Aishwarya Rai, who symbolises ultimate power, money and success, think of other women in India. She should have broken the stereotype instead of becoming one. The Bachchans have failed India.

Did anyone say religion should be a private matter?

(Minu Jain is a senior editor at IANS. The views expressed are personal. She can be contacted at minu.jain@ians.in)
 

Indian Film Festival a hit in Los Angeles
By Andy Goldberg

Los Angeles, April 17 (DPA) It could be the plot of a particularly unlikely Bollywood movie. A young Greek girl grows up on the Mediterranean island of Crete and falls in love with movies from faraway India.

Every weekend she sits glued to the screen to watch her idols like Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and others. She later moves to America, but never forgets her Indian connection.

She decides to start an Indian Film Festival in the world capital of cinema, Los Angeles. After a few years the festival becomes a major cultural event and a focus of collaboration between Hollywood and Bollywood. The End.

That, in a nutshell, is the story of Christina Marouda, who founded The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) in 2002, as a non-profit organisation devoted to promoting a greater appreciation of Indian culture.

The fifth festival opens Tuesday night with the LA premiere of Jag Mundhra's "Provoked" and closes with Rajnesh Domalpalli's "Vanaja" on Sunday.

Sponsors of the festival reflect the growing attention the event is gathering. Time Warner, Sony, Wal-Mart Stores, Wells Fargo, Deluxe Labs, Nickelodeon, The Hollywood Reporter, and Screen International are all supporting IFFLA.

The widely read LA Weekly is even sponsoring a Bollywood By Night film series that highlights some of the most popular Bollywood movies, including the 20-year anniversary screening of Shekhar Kapur's landmark "Mr India". Another highlight is a tribute to Bollywood actress Deepti Naval, with three of her movies chosen for special screenings.

The festival's aim is to highlight films from India as well as films about India and films by Indian directors. IFFLA also shows films that reflect diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. The 2007 line up will showcase 36 films (13 features, 8 documentaries and 15 shorts) and will include three world premieres, 11 US premieres and 16 LA premieres.

The festival is both a product and a cause of the tremendous growth in interest in Indian filmmaking in the US, said Marouda Monday.

"In the last year, there has been a tremendous growth and awareness of Indian cinema in the US," she said. "It's tremendously exciting but very busy."

That's not just self-serving hype. The year 2006 was a record-breaking year for Hindi films at the US box office - seven of the 14 foreign language films that grossed over $2 million were Hindi movies. Hindi films were even more popular than Spanish films, which only had two movies gross more than $2 million, despite the huge number of Hispanics in America.

The rise in popularity has coincided with the growth of the festival. It launched in 2002 just as "Lagaan" and "Monsoon Wedding" became breakout hits in mainstream US cinema.

But those landmark movies don't fit the Bollywood stereotype, nor does the rest of the IFFLA line-up. Take the opening movie, "Provoked", for example. It's no sugary melodrama, but a searing examination of a case that redefined the seriousness of spousal battery in British courts, when a Punjabi woman fights for her freedom after being imprisoned for the murder of her abusive husband.

The documentaries highlight current events with the world premiere of "Are You Alright Afghanistan?" from Indian filmmaker Soumitra Ranade, who having grown up in Afghanistan, returns to this country 26 years later with a camera. "Divided We Fall: Americans In The Aftermath" sees filmmaker Sharat Raju follow a Sikh American who drives across America after 9/11.

Other movies include the international epic "Valley Of Flowers", described as "a great Asian love story" that spans two centuries of passion death and reincarnation from the Himalayas to modern-day Tokyo. Movies like "Outsourced" and "Office Tigers" examine the impact in both US and Indian society of India's growing importance as a world technology centre.

India is also gaining greater importance as a film production centre with many Hollywood companies looking to make movies there. Mira Nair, the "Monsoon Wedding" director, is about to start filming "Shantaram".

With this increased cooperation, IFFLA serves as a vital networking event for industry professionals from India and the US and this year hopes to attract 6,000 participants,
Marouda said.

That's not bad a bad achievement for a girl from Greece, who followed her passion for Indian movies.

"It's a great feeling," Marouda said. "A lot more work and a lot more stress. And a lot more people to deal with. But it's just fantastic."
 

Music baron's wife joins anti-piracy drive
 
Mumbai, April 17   Divya Khosla, wife of T-series owner Bhushan Kumar, has produced an ad that hits out at pirated VCDs and DVDs. The 45-second anti-piracy ad, which is being aired on television these days, .

The 45-second ad shows TV actress Manini De being subjected to mockery for possessing pirated CDs.

According to reports, the Indian music industry is losing Rs.7 billion a year due to piracy.

"Our music industry faces huge losses due to piracy, which overshadows our artistes' talent and the hard work they put in. Most people don't realise the consequences when they pick up a pirated VCD or DVD.

"Thousands of people suffer. Some are even rendered homeless. I felt it was high time we stopped this murky business. And a commercial is the best way to make the public aware that they are indulging in a crime," Divya said in a press release.

Divya, who starred in "Ab Tumhare Hawaalen Watan Saathiyon", gave up acting after she got married. But she has been very active in her husband's company and takes care of the overall administrative functioning.

The lady has also decided to turn into a director.

Richard Gere-Shilpa Shetty show hits UK headlines
 
London, April 17   The brouhaha in India over Hollywood actor Richard Gere's stage embrace with Shilpa Shetty has hit the headlines in Britain, where she continues to make news after her victory on the "Celebrity Big Brother" show earlier this year.

Several newspapers published the picture of Gere embracing Shetty at an AIDS awareness event in New Delhi, along with a detailed account of the protests across India and the Bollywood actress' response to them.

In a headline titled 'Kiss that shocked India', the Guardian reported: "Many saw the act as an outrage against Shetty's modesty and Indian culture, though Shetty dismissed the protests as an 'over-reaction' that made India look silly.

"Groups of men burned and kicked effigies of the actors in protests across India, including in the northern Indian cities of New Delhi, Kanpur, Meerut and Varanasi as well as in the central city of Indore."

Under the headline 'Gere arouses Hindu ire over stage kiss', the Telegraph reported: "Hindu nationalist groups objected to an onstage clinch between her and Richard Gere, the actor, during an AIDS-awareness rally.

"Gere jokingly grabbed her and planted several kisses on her cheek, to howls of appreciation from an audience of New Delhi lorry drivers. But members of the Shiv Sena organisation burned effigies of Gere in the streets of Varanasi, Hinduism's holiest city, and demanded that he leave the country immediately or apologise for his 'indecent conduct'."

The Independent reported the event - 'Indians angered by Gere's passionate embrace with Shilpa' - saying: "The evening was supposed to focus international attention on the sexual misadventures of India's famously promiscuous lorry drivers.

"Instead, it plunged Hollywood heartthrob Richard Gere into an unwelcome spotlight and re-ignited controversy surrounding Bollywood actress and Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty."

The report said: "Television footage of the star of 'An Officer And A Gentleman' plastering Shetty in kisses has sparked violent demonstrations in India over the couple's allegedly loose sexual morals.

"While the multiple embrace went down well with guests at an open-air AIDS awareness event in Delhi on Sunday night - the audience and Shetty roared in delight at the star's affectionate greeting - it has caused deep anxiety among some."

"Militants, fired up by repeated showings on India's many rolling news channels, burnt and kicked effigies of both actors in protests, claiming the overt kissing was a full frontal assault on the country's tradition of modesty and extra-marital chastity.

"Shetty defended the actor's behaviour - he swept her backwards in an embrace and repeatedly kissed her - insisting that Gere had done nothing 'obscene'. She described the protests as an 'overreaction' that made India appear 'regressive' in the eyes of the international community," it added.

The Times reported the event - 'How Gere inflamed Indian passions with a stage kiss' - by saying: "Angry crowds in the conservative north of India set fire to dolls representing Gere who, as a practising Buddhist, is a regular visitor to the subcontinent and prides himself on his adherence to local customs."
 

Sanjaya gets booed at baseball game
 

Los Angeles, April 17   "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya Malakar was booed by crowds at a recent Dodgers-Padres baseball game in Los Angeles.

"He was just sitting there having a good time with his friends, just like a regular person. And when the Dodger camera noticed him, the cameraperson ran over and taped him.

"Sanjaya's face pops up on the big screen right away. At first he smiled, he seemed to like the attention. But when the entire crowd at the stadium started to boo and it was loud! His smile faded a bit and his eyes looked sad," said an eyewitness who was at the Dodger stadium to watch the game.

"It's like he was trying to keep a fake smile on, but you could tell he was crestfallen. He just kept waving and smiling for a few seconds more then his image went off the screen," added the eyewitness.

While so many detractors online and on radio think the Indian-American Sanjaya should have been booted from "American Idol" weeks ago, Ricky Minor, the show's music director, thinks otherwise, reports www.hollywood.tv.

"You know what? I think that he could win the show," Minor said. "He's gotten this far because he really is what he is - he's got this huge smile, he's a handsome guy and is really likable. People are pulling for him - and people really care about him."

Not only has he aliened viewers with his so-called "fauxhawk" hairstyle, but what also irks them is that he survives week after week even though he can't carry a tune in a bucket.

"I can tell you he can sing," insisted Minor. "I think there are people who are naysayers, but I've run into a lot of credible people who really enjoy his voice. He has a connection to the lyrics and people are pleasantly surprised.

"This isn't a singing competition alone. It's for a star to emerge. Sanjaya has a huge likeability factor. I think it's possible for him to win based on the way he's moving through the competition."

Richard Gere cannot do anything obscene: Shilpa
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 17   Though taken aback by Hollywood star Richard Gere's public display of affection at an AIDS event in Delhi, Bollywood's much-in-the-news star Shilpa Shetty has stoutly defended him saying he is not capable of doing anything obscene.

"I wish the electronic media wouldn't play the clip over and over again. It's annoying and serves no purpose. There're so many larger issues. In fact, we were there to spread AIDS awareness among truckers," Shilpa told IANS in an interview.

"Richard has been doing this unconditionally. What does he have to gain from this? He keeps coming back to our country. He is such a gentleman. He is incapable of indecent behaviour. I know indecent behaviour when I see it."

Explaining her much-publicised hug, she said: "Earlier during the day during lunch we were teasing him about a dance step in 'Shall We Dance?' When he suddenly bent me down on stage he was doing that whole step from 'Shall We Dance?' I was as taken aback as the people who saw it. It was nothing but a joke and not pre-planned at all."

Hindu rightwing Shiv Sena members Monday burnt Gere and Shilpa's pictures. They even disrupted a press conference addressed by the actress in Mumbai.

As for the moralists accusing her of unbecoming conduct, Shilpa said: "It was just a kiss on my cheek! What's the big hue and cry about?"

There had been a similar uproar when many years ago Padmini Kolhapure had kissed Prince Charles.

"That was on the lips. This was on the cheek, for crying out loud! No one can question me about my values. I agree a posture like that in public is against our culture. But doesn't our culture say that a guest is like god? Was I supposed to snub Richard in a public place when what he was doing was just for fun? No! I think he's here for a great cause.

"I want to know what people who're burning Richard's effigy have done for our country. These kinds of controversies unnecessarily take away from the main issue. I can't believe this!"

She also says that by unnecessarily highlighting it people are putting her off.

"Frankly, I'm fed up of these controversies. Nothing shocks me any more. Honestly, I didn't know what was happening. What happened with Richard wasn't my fault. It was just meant to be fun. I don't think Richard intended to hurt anyone's sentiments. Richard is a Buddhist. He believes the Dalai Lama. He wears a 'tulsi mala' (basil beads). Why would he do anything to hurt our sentiments? Richard's intentions were not dubious.

"People are burning effigies of Richard. Poor guy! For such a trivial issue! How will it look in the international press? For nine years he has been toiling for the cause of AIDS. Do we know how much money he has been raising for the cause? It's sad people are being instigated against him.

"He belongs to another cultural zone. Richard meant no harm. I'm no prude. We were in the midst of 3,000 truckers somewhere outside Delhi, who didn't understand English. Richard was just trying to entertain an unresponsive audience."

Shilpa says she has formed a bond with him. "He wants me to be a part of his AIDS foundation."
 

South African Indian filmmaker to get US honour
By Fakir Hassen, 

Johannesburg, April 17   South African Indian filmmaker Anant Singh will be honoured with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the 12th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) on April 23.

The award will bring Singh in the league of such celebrated film personalities as producers Robert Evans ("Chinatown", "The Cotton Club", "Urban Cowboy", "The Saint"), Richard Zanuck ("Jaws", "The Sound Of Music", "Planet Of The Apes", "Road To Perdition") and directors William Friedkan ("The Exorcist", "Cruising", "Rules Of Engagement") and Robert Wise ("West Side Story", "The Sound Of Music", "Star Trek").

Announcing the award, the executive director of the festival Randi Emerman said they would also pay special tribute to South Africa with the screening of films produced by Singh.

Among the South African films to be screened during the festival are the Oscar-nominated "Yesterday", dealing with the triumph of a rural Black woman who fights off the stigma of HIV/AIDS; the multi award-winning "Red Dust", which is based on reconciliation after apartheid; the hit comedy "Mr. Bones", which found great favour in India recently; and the stylish gangster film "Dollars And White Pipes".

Emerman said these films were chosen because of the cultural impact they have had on the world.

As he left here Tuesday for the festival, Singh said he was delighted to be a recipient of the PBIFF's Career Achievement Award and to be in the company of past recipients whom he considered to be legends.

"I am also honoured that the festival has acknowledged my work and that of the many South Africans who have contributed to these films which have made an impact on audience around the world."

The Palm Beach International Film Festival runs from Thursday, April 19 to Thursday, April 26.
 

'TV should not have shown hug and kiss repeatedly'
 
Mumbai, April 17   Shilpa Shetty is angry with the media and has lashed out at TV channels for repeatedly showing her 'hug and kiss' with Hollywood actor Richard Gere at a show organised in New Delhi to create AIDS awareness amongst truck drivers.

"I wish the electronic media wouldn't play the clip over and over again. It's annoying and serves no purpose. There're so many larger issues. In fact, we were there to spread AIDS awareness among truckers," Shilpa told IANS.

Hindu rightwing Shiv Sena members, who considered Gere's public display of affection immoral, attacked a press conference Monday being addressed by Shilpa in Mumbai. They also burnt the effigies of both actors and demanded that the Hollywood actor should leave the country immediately.

Apart from Mumbai and New Delhi, sporadic protests were seen in Kanpur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Meerut and Indore by the so-called guardians of morality.

Shilpa, who has won sizeable fans in Britain after winning the reality show "Big Brother", feels this kind of reaction is sending out wrong signals to the British people.

"I don't understand why are we making idiots of ourselves by blowing it up. Whatever has happened is wrong."
 

Two generations later, expatriates question 1947
By Frederick Noronha, 

Sydney, April 16   Nearly two generations after people caught up in the mindless violence of the 1947 partition of India now living in another continent are struggling to answer one perplexing question: why did it happen at all?

Anita Barar, broadcaster, writer, film maker and theatre personality of Indian-origin, has jut put together a documentary called "Crossing the Line", based on memories of Indian and Pakistani senior citizens who crossed over the border in the wake of Pakistan's creation.

The film is in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, with Barar as writer, producer and director.

"These are stories of people who are now all in Sydney. When they meet one another, they reminiscence about those times. Some are Indians who came over from, say, Lahore. Others became Pakistanis and went over probably from Delhi. It's quite an emotional journey for them to even just discover each other (and see those days from another perspective)," Barar told IANS in an interview.

Her 73-minute English-subtitled film gets ready for a July 2007 launch. Barar says: "It's amazing to see the community living in harmony here, just wondering what happened at that time."

She believes her story is one that takes a "positive note" and focuses on a people who - after such a lot of mindless bitterness - have "put history behind them". She says: "They have moved on, and they have crossed the line."

Barar, like her subjects in the film, is herself a migrant to Australia, where she has been based for nearly two decades. She earlier lived in Mumbai (then Bombay) and for a while at New Delhi where she worked with the Punjab National Bank.

Like her subjects too, she herself was affected by the partition. Her parents came from Dadu "in (western) Punjab or is it Sind ... I'm not sure", she says, giving a hint of her faint memories of those earlier times.

Her folks moved over in November 1947. "The only thing I wish was that they (my parents) were alive and could have seen (this film)," she says, a bit misty-eyed.

"They left everything there (following the mindless violence of the partition). They came over to India empty handed. There, they rediscovered their lives and built up their family. We were seven children including five brothers. One was lost during the time of the partition, but I'm not sure in what circumstances," she explained.

So how have the wounds of those times healed?

"There are memories. It (getting involved in this film) was kind of trip down memory lane, and very nostalgic. Senior citizens are often the ones who get neglected, they are ones who can't communicate with the younger generation, since everything is going so fast (in this part of the world)," she explained.

For her documentary, she interviewed 15 people - six from what is today Pakistan and nine from India. At the time of partition, they were aged between 10 and 36 years. The interviews were done in July 2006.

One lady was as old as 96 "and she has an amazing memory", said Barar.

"They today find their circumstances absolutely similar. It was interesting to discover there was no such hatred now, no such religious barrier. Being Hindu or Muslims (isn't a divide anymore). They were all unanimous in believing that (the partition violence) was a consequence of the British divide-and-rule policy and that the people got carried away. It just happened, and they don't know why..."

She also points to stories of how, despite the mindless religious-based violence, people from both sides helped each other in times of strife, and even saved lives from the "other" community.

"You could say the real issue here was one of confused identity, not just of financial or emotional loss. Until Aug 15, 1947, all were Indians. There was this lady who migrated from Calcutta to Dhaka and (after 1971) went to West Pakistan. Her grandparents came from Kashmir, so it was like a whole u-turn for her," says Barar.

Today, with their South Asian roots bringing more commonalities out in them, the migrants settled Down Under believe their common culture and linguistic similarities hold them together.

Barar has created five films in the past, including one on domestic violence ("A New Dawn", 22 minutes), one on an old person living with her daughter and how messy this could be ("In God's Hand") and a short situational comedy ("The First of April").

(Frederick Noronha can be contacted at fredericknoronha@gmail.com)
 

Anjori is a surprise, says Sameer Nair
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 16   It was no surprise when NDTV Imagine's newly appointed chief Sameer Nair showed up at the premiere of Vikram Bhatt's "Life Mein Kabhi Kabhie". After all, it is his sister-in-law Anjori Alagh's debut film.

Anjori is the younger sister of his wife Sawari.

"Actually, I was watching the film for the second time. And I enjoyed it even more. Anjori is a surprise. She's been abroad all her life. But she fits in so well with the Bollywood grammar. And I am not saying this because she's my sister-in-law," Nair told IANS.

Nair also appreciated Sammir Dattani's performance in the film.

"The other performance that took me by surprise was Sammir - very confident and intense. We had been trying to get him to do things on STAR for a long time. It's interesting to see talent like Anjori and Sammir emerge as the future."

And yes, Nair will be using the two for film-based software on NTDV Imagine.

Not only that, Nair wants to direct a film. That's how much he loves movies. And it is a known fact that the high-profile Nair has a deep filmy connection.

If we go by the buzz Shah Rukh Khan and Nair bonded so well over "Kaun Banega Crorepati" at STAR, the enterprising Nair is now planning something really big at NDTV with the superstar. That Karan Johar is also part of the channel will certainly help.

 

Anurag Kashyap upset with Deepa Mehta
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 16   Writer-director Anurag Kashyap has accused Toronto-based filmmaker Deepa Mehta of stealing his credit in her Oscar-nominated film "Water".

In an interview to India FM website, Anurag said: "After the amount of work I had put in the film, I was credited as a translator of Hindi dialogues because I didn't sign a contract. 'Water' was a terrible experience."

Mehta, who is in Toronto recovering from the death of her father, is stupefied and saddened.

"Why did Kashyap speak like this? He's such a dear friend with a great mind. I truly admire him. And yes, his contribution to 'Water' is invaluable," Mehta told IANS from Toronto.

"I wrote the entire screenplay including the dialogues in English. It was Kashyap who used his skills with the Hindi language to bring my characters to life. Not once did he tell me or let me feel that he was having a terrible time. We seemed to get along so well. I wonder what prompted the outburst."

Mehta is currently busy scripting the proposed "Exclusion" in which Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is expected to play a pivotal role.

"In principle Amitabh has said yes. But I need to hand him the script. With my father gone I'm busy bonding with my mother in Toronto. I can't afford to think about why anyone from our wonderful team in 'Water' would feel excluded or cheated."

 

Yana Gupta writing a book on health and nutrition
By Shweta Thakur, 

New Delhi, April 16   Czech model-turned-actress Yana Gupta, whose sizzling item number "Babu-ji" won her many fans, admits to being such a fitness freak that she used to carry self-cooked food to homes where she was invited for dinner.

"I am passionate about fitness and every day I work out religiously for an hour. I eat properly and take five small meals in a day. In fact, I make my own stuff. At one point of time I liked self-prepared food so much that I started carrying it to my friends' place where I was invited for dinner," Yana told IANS in an interview.

And while she waits for interesting film offers to come her way, Yana is writing a book on nutrition and fitness. It is slated to hit bookstores by the end of the year.

Yana says working out in a gym not only keeps her fit but is also a spiritual experience.

"Working out in the gym makes you both physically and mentally fit. It is the only time when you can switch off your mobile, relax and do self-introspection. In my case, it is a spiritual experience, which can't be expressed in words," added Yana.

Her item song "Babu-ji" in the movie "Dum" proved a huge hit. But the actress could not repeat the success story and vanished from the silver screen.

Explaining, Yana said: "I did not disappear. I do not want to compromise on quality. If the music is mediocre, I would not take up the project."

Item numbers are not all she wants. Yana would like to establish herself as a full-fledged actress.

"Honestly, not many projects were offered to me. And the few that came my way, were not good enough to be accepted. I am still waiting for a good project."

With a dearth of good offers, Yana is optimising her other skills - she is singing, composing and writing.

"I cannot wait for things to happen. I know my potential - that I can generate projects. The whole of last year I spent in creating projects. I am writing a book on nutrition and fitness.

"I am also working on my jazz music album for which I have written, composed and sung songs. The music of the album is given by Needless To Say. I am planning to release it abroad. I have also joined hands with a British artist for a hip hop Hindi-English mix song."

She also complains about lack of good artistes in the Hindi film industry.

"There are very few actors in Bollywood who are true artistes. Most of the time I have come across actors, who first enquire about their looks in a film rather than their performance. I feel it is more about looking good than acting good in Bollywood."

Yana, who featured in Adnan Sami's latest music video album "Kisi Din", is also set to wow audiences with her item number in "Kaise Kahe", which according to her "drove her crazy".

Let us not make fools of ourselves, says Shilpa Shetty
 
Mumbai, April 16   Bollywood's much-in-the-news actress Shilpa Shetty is outraged by the Hindu rightwing Shiv Shena's violent reaction to her striking a "dancing pose" with Hollywood superstar Richard Gere and says they were overreacting to an absolutely trivial issue.

"I was completely taken aback. My work was disrupted. The set was damaged. I am not allowed to I know it is blown out of proportion. If protecting Indian culture and tradition means burning our effigies, please go ahead and do it. But our culture also teaches us "atithi devo bhava" (Guest is God). I feel people are overreacting. Don't misuse the freedom of expression in a democracy," Shilpa told mediapersons.

Shiv Sena members attacked a press conference Monday being addressed by Shilpa in Mumbai in the wake of Gere giving her a surprise hug and peck on her cheeks at a show organised to create AIDS awareness amongst truck drivers. They also burnt the effigies of both the actors and demanded that the Hollywood actor should leave the country immediately.

Defending Gere, she said: "He was just trying to strike a dancing pose. In India entertainment means song and dance, so he was trying to do something entertaining. That's it. He didn't try to kiss me on my lips. He was just giving me a peck on my cheeks.

"I know it is a trivial issue. Somebody is trying to do something for your country and you are treating him so badly."

Apart from Mumbai, sporadic protests were seen in Varanasi, Meerut and Indore by so-called guardians of morality.

After winning the British reality show "Big Brother", the actress has become quite popular in Britain and feels this kind of irresponsible behaviour will leave a bad impression on the British public.

"I don't understand why are we making an idiot of ourselves by blowing it up. We will look like an idiot on British media. Whatever has happened is wrong."

 

Larry King wants to meet the Ambanis
 
Los Angeles, April 16   While CNN is getting ready to celebrate television legend Larry King's 50 years in broadcasting this week, the talk show host is more thrilled about the idea of meeting Indian business tycoons Mukesh and Anil Ambani.

Given that the talk show host had founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation in 1988, he was asked if he had given any thought to teaming up with the Ambani hospital in Mumbai, which shares his vision of care for cardiac patients.

"I've never been to India and I would love to go," King said. I look forward to going to India and meeting the Ambanis," King told www.hollywood.tv.

The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital will have 600 beds with over 115 intensive care units (ICUs) including paediatric and special cardio-departments.

If King visits India, he could bring worldwide awareness to the healthcare industry of the country, the same way Oprah Winfrey brought attention to education in South Africa.


IANS