THE BEST EVER : JOHNNY WALKER

 THE BEST EVER : JOHNNY WALKER

WRITTEN BY:  RAJESH V. GAUR and  SUNEEL V. GAUR

EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com
                                                 
                                                       

 Johnny Walker cast a magic spell among the masses with his simple, innocent, unadulterated humor, providing comic relief in tense situations in the movies of 50s and 60s. Badruddin Kazi aka Johnny Walker who started his career as an ordinary bus conductor in BEST buses of Mumbai. He regaled passengers with his antics and fortune smiled upon him one day when he had actor Balraj Sahani as his passenger. Balraj was scripting dialogues for the film Baazi whose director was Guru Dutt. Inspired by Johnny's antics Balraj took him to Guru Dutt and asked Johnny Walker to introduce himself. Johnny Walker hit upon a brain wave and entered the cabin of Guru Dutt with an unsteady gait of a drunk, mouthing profanity. An irate Guru Dutt called upon the Unit people to throw him out of the sets. But then Balraj Sahani intervened and the rest is history. Guru Dutt rechristened Badruddin Kazi as Johnny Walker after the famous Scotch brand as he was very impressed with his act of a drunk.

Thus Johnny Walker became an integral part of many a Guru Dutt movies like Aar Paar, Mr and Mrs 55, CID, Pyaasa, Kagaz Ki Phool, Chaudvin Ka Chand, Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam, etc. His impeccable diction,blended with wonderful performances became a mesmerizing combination which the audience lapped up with great excitement. His excellent sense of timing in delivering dialogues helped him give standout performances. Renowned film-makers, sought him out and characters were especially written for him.He bought his own class act in films like Baat Ek Raat Ki, Naya Daur, Duniya, Madhumati, Devdas, Aarop, etc.

Audiences clamoured to see more of him. C.I.D's Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan is still the anthem for the Mumbaites. And who could forget the timeless Sar Jo Tera Chakraye in Guru Dutt's classic Pyaasa? His squeaky voice, wafer-thin moustache and devastating wit added a different dimension to this funny man.

After a long successful innings, Johnny took a break from Bollywood. But he pleasantly surprised his fans when he returned to it for one last time in Chachi 420 [1997].
In a place like Bollywood, where morals and morality are buried deep under and the power of money overrides principles and ideals, people like Johnny Walker stood like a solid rock. They made people laugh but they never made themselves a laughing stock.

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR  and SUNEEL V. GAUR
                                                          
                                                                 

FILM INDUSTRY'S NEW QUEEN : KANGANA RANAUT

 

Kangana and Journalist Rajesh Gaur

 

FILM  INDUSTRY'S NEW  QUEEN : KANGANA RANAUT

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and RAJEEV  V. GAUR

EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com

Its time for twin celebration for Kangana Ranaut. Her performances in the recently released Queen and Revolver Rani are winning her rave reviews and accolades. It  has been eight years since Kangana Ranaut made her dream debut with Anurag Basu's Gangster in 2006. She has high self-esteem, is sensitive and bold, and has carried herself entirely on her own shoulders. Despite many obstacles in her career, she has carved a niche in Bollywood without having a godfather in the industry. She says her days of struggle are behind her now.

"My journey has been great. It is a mix of struggle and appreciation. But it is only now that I can say I am enjoying my work. Initially, there was lot of struggle but now I am getting the kind of roles that I want to do. I now have a say," Kangana told us recently during the promotion of Queen.

The actress, said " Struggle for me was not a shortage of films but not getting the right kind of films. After Gangster I was being typecast, be it Life in a... Metro, Fashion or others.

"So, I actually had to put my foot down and say 'No I am not going to take more of this'. I almost had to stay out of work for sometime to change the course of the image I was getting into, without wanting it. I always felt that I had much more to give than just doing the same crazy, over the top characters and dramatic roles," said the National-award-winning actress. And it worked. Kangana went on to star in films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbai and Tanu Weds Manu in which her 'quirky-chirpy' act was appreciated by the audience and critics alike.

During this time Kangana was part of some inconsequential films like Tezz", Rascals and Double Dhamaal among others. , "I do not regret being part of such films in my career so far. A lot of actors say that if they do not get good offers they prefer to sit at home, I don't have any such philosophy. I cannot sit at home without work." she said. Was there ever a time when the talented actress had lost hope of achieving her goals.

Kangana says she is not fussy about working in big banner films but would rather do meaty roles in smaller ones. "From my experience I have seen that one should do films that gives us satisfaction and not just run after something. My biggest film till date Game was the biggest flop and a practically smaller film Tanu Weds Manu went on to be a success " she said. Her performance in Queen has been appreciated and she now awaits her next film Revolver Rani.

"I am really excited about next year. I have a few films lined up for release and all roles are very different from each other. I am a very spontaneous person and will just go with the flow," she said.

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and RAJEEV  V. GAUR

FOREVER YOUNG DEV ANAND

 FOREVER YOUNG DEV ANAND

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and RAJEEV  V. GAUR

EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com
. Though we lost him a couple of years back Dev Anand is existent through brilliant performances in highly acclaimed movies like Guide, Teen Deviyaan, Manzil, Baat Ek Raat Ki ,Jaali Note, Warrant, etc. The evergreen Dev Saab has left behind a huge legacy.

While most actors in B-town dream of leading an active life till they breathe their last, only a few like Dev Anand managed to live a productive life to the end. And in his 66-year-long career he added colour to more than a 100 films and still rules countless hearts. The iconic film personality tried, tested and conquered every aspect of movie making, from acting to writing, directing to producing.

Dev was a superstar, a very talented and iconic actor. Dev saab took failure and success in his stride. Though quite a few of his films did not taste success in recent years it never deterred Dev saab from investing his time and money in new projects, unfazed by the fate of his previous films. His confidence and exuberance was at a permanent high. His son Suneil Anand has announced a film called Vagator Mixer in order to resurrect the Navketan banner rwhich Dev saab helped grow from a sapling to a tree.

Dev saab was the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2002), Padma Bhushan (2001) and Filmfare Life Achievement Award (1999). He had also won two Filmfare awards for his sterling eprformances in Guide and Kala Pani. In addition to his work Dev saab was greatly admired by his fans for his great love and zest for life. Forever young Dev Saab was often called the Gregory Peck of India but he was happy being the Dev Anand of India.

One of the most integral part of his film career was the wonderful music of his films. Greatest songs by the SD Burman- Kishore Kumar combination were picturised on him. Songs from highly acclaimed movies like Teen Deviyaan, Paying Guest, Jewel Thief, Tere Mere Sapne, went on to become milestones. Dev Anand rendered life to those songs on screen with his sheer romantic persona and amazing expressions. Another integral part of his movie career  was writer Vrajendra Gaur who scripted many of his films like Teen Deviyaan, Manzil, Jaali Note, Baat Ek Raat Ki, Baarish, Duniya, Mahal, Warrant, etc. and Dev did full justice to the dialogues and scripts written by Gaur for him.

Not the early romance with Suraiyya and not even Navketan films or good looks , Dev Anand will always be remembered for his talent and passion for making films and for his contribution to Hindi films as an actor and film-lover.  The expression Rest in Peace does not apply to Bollywood's most handsome and debonair star Dev saab as he hated resting. May he be happy and at peace wherever he is.

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH  V. GAUR and  RAJEEV  V. GAUR

SHAKTI SAMANTA'S MEMORIES REMAIN STRONG

SHAKTI SAMANTA'S MEMORIES REMAIN STRONG WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR AND SUNEEL V. GAUR EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com  Noted film maker Shakti Samanta’s birth anniversary falls on 13th January .. In a career that straddled five decades, Samanta directed numerous hits;.Samanta was quiet and reserved. and was a man of of few words with people he was not comfortable with. A straightforward man, his clarity of thought could never be disputed. Remarkably, this unassuming man had been responsible for spinning skeins of cinematic magic. Born in Burdwan, now in West Bengal on January 13, 1924. He grew up at his uncle’s place in Dehra Dun. At an early age he was bitten by the acting bug . With little money and big dreams, he took up the job of a school teacher in Dapoli, about 200 kilometers from Mumbai. He would make a weekly trip to Mumbai r. He made his rounds of the studios when Bombay Talkies was on top and as it turned out, Bombay Talkies at the time was overflowing with Bengalis. It was Ashok Kumar, then the top star at Bombay Talkies, who advised him to become an assistant director and not chase stardom, After a few odd jobs be became an assistant director to writer Vrajendra Gaur who was making a film called Kasturi in 1953.. Gaur and Samanta shared a tremendous rapport and Gaur did not direct a film again despite Kasturi doing well . He passed on the subsequent offers to Shakti Samanta   and that’s how he [Shakti] got his break as an independent director with Bahu (1955). Vrajendra Gaur’s and Shakti’s friendship was well known in the film industry and Gaur went on to write Shakti’s China Town, Bahu, Howrah Bridge, Singapore, Jaali Note, Sawan KI Ghata, Insaan Jaag Utha, Kati Patang, Anuraag, The Great Gambler, Charitraheen, etc. Shakti started his independent career with Bahu but it was with the super hit crime thriller Howrah Bridge [ 1958]. with Madhubala seductively swaying to 'Aaiye meherban' and Shammi Kapoor playing a double role in China Town [ 1962] that established Samanta's crednentialss as a filmmaker.                                                          Shakti Samanta with his dear friend and writer Vrajendra Gaur     Samanta's career can be divided into three phases. In the first, he made crime thrillers like Howrah Bridge (both with Ashok Kumar) and Jaali Note (Dev Anand). His China Town had the good Shammi Kapoor being dumbstruck by his bad twin's famous dialogue [by Vrajendra Gaur] : 'Mike ka doosra naam China Town'. Even Amitabh Bachchan’s Don was said to be inspired by China Town. Once, Shakti Samanta's choice of hero signaled the status of Bollywood's leading men. In the 1960s, he helmed a string of successful films with Shammi Kapoor in the lead; but after Samanta's Aradhana became a blockbuster in 1969, he made films with the new superstar Rajesh Khanna. And after Khanna's career fizzled, Samanta segued to working with Amitabh Bachchan in The Great Gambler (1979) and Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981). It is to Samanta’s credit that he  could work his alchemy even with newcomers. Sharmila (Kashmir Ki Kali), Rajesh Khanna (Aradhana), Helen (Howrah Bridge) and Moushumi got their first taste of Hindi film stardom, thanks to his films. It was Shakti Samanta's Anuraag that made her a star."                               Shakti’s career can be divided into three parts. In the Crime and action films like Howrah Bridge and China Town followed by musicals like musicals like : Kashmir Ki Kali, Sawan Ki Ghata, An Evening In Paris. After Samanta delivered the three films he made Aradhana (1969), and he entered the third phase of his career emotional dramas. Aradhana was unforgettable, amongst other things for Rajesh Khanna ‘s performance which propelled him to superstardom and Kishore Kumar songs which took him to unparalleled heights of playback singing and in the process dethroning Mohd Rafi from his number one position forever.Kati Patang Amar Prem and Anuraag followed Aradhana, and went on to become big hits. In the process making Shakti Samanta became a topnotch film maker.."                                                                          Vrajendra Gaur and Shakti Samanta younger days By the late 1970s, Samanta had a hit-and-miss run. He tried reteaming with Rajesh Khanna after a seven-year break with Awaaz ('84) and Alag Alag ('85), but the Samanta-Khanna-Burman magic sadly failed this time. After the Jeetendra-Rekha starrer Geetanjali in 1993, Samanta quit Hindi films. Shakti Samanta's son Ashim too is a talented director with many films to his credit , under his home banner. In the last few decades, Samanta was an industry elder. He was the Censor Board Chief. Shakti . Samanta is no more ... but his memories remain strong.      WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and SUNEEL V. GAUR

HIS MASTER'S VOICE: MOHD AZIZ

 HIS MASTER’S VOICE: MOHD AZIZ

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and SUNEEL V. GAUR

EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com

                                                        

MOHD AZIZ

                                         
 Mohd Aziz got his big break as a singer with the the chart topper “ Mard Tangewala...” from the film Mard.. The gifted singer carved a niche for himself in Bollywood and most of his songs like Ek Andhera Lakh Ujale, Aaj kal Yaad kuch aur rehta nahi, Duniya mein kitna gam hai, Mein se meena se na Saakhi Se, etc. became hits and the humble singer was being was being pursued by top music directors of the day. Despite being the top singer of Hindi films, Aziz remained humble and today when he is facing a rough patch in Bollywood he remains upbeat and as down to earth as ever. RAJESH V. GAUR and SUNEEL V. GAUR interviewed the singer recently.Excerpts:

Why has the Hindi film industry discarded you as a singer?
I am puzzled because I am the same Mohd Aziz who gave hits like Khuda Gawah, Mard, Khudgarz, Aakhir Kyon, Saudagar,Nagina, Tridev, Karma, Ram Lakhan, etc. etc. The innocent music lovers will accept the songs that are offered to them as they have no choice or say in the matter. Secondly, I have never asked anyone for work as it is against my conscience and self-respect because I am very confident about my ability to sing even the most difficult of songs.

You sang a lot of songs for Amitabh Bachchan?
I sang for for Amit ji in twenty two films, This itself has guaranteed me fame forever. As long as Amitabh Bachchan is remembered people will also remember me, his playback singer.

Today, many youngsters are trying their luck in the field of playback singing?
Many of these so called singers are a product of media hype. They get overnight success and that too on a platter. These so called singers disappear within no time. As for me,I have come up the hard way after a lot of ‘riyaaz’ and back breaking struggle.

Your biggest motivation as a playback singer?
Its Mohd Rafi saab, a great singer and wonderful human being. I don’t copy him because I feel no one can copy an iconic singer like him. But his songs have inspired and influenced my style of singing. I consider him my ‘guru’ or master.

Who do you owe your success to?
Only God. Had any music director been responsible for my success I would still be on top of my profession.

Your views on the songs being churned out today?
Impairing ones voice and spoiling a song is what the majority of the singers are doing today. Recording a song has become easier and even 'Besura' or out of tune singers are made to sound OK with the help of recording machines. Where is the dedication, hard work and patience in the singing and music today. Everyone is out to make a quick buck.

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and SUNEEL V. GAUR

EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com 

  

 

 

DEEPAK SAWANT LAUNCHES 'LEADER'

              
                         

DEEPAK SAWANT LAUNCHES  'LEADER'

BY; SUNEEL and RAJESH V. GAUR

EMAIL: sunrise607@rediffmail.com

Amitabh Bachchan's make up man of 40  years Deepak Sawant launched yet another film, LEADER,  at a suburban 5 star hotel. The honest and humble person that he is, this is Deepak Sawant's fifth film as a producer. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Pakhi, Dinesh Lal Yadav and Gulshan Grover.
Amitabh as is his habit was punctual to a T and came to grace the occassion and bless Deepak Sawant on this grand occassion. 
This film is a colloboration between Pen and Camera international and M.J. Productions.

                                Journalist Rajesh Gaur with Producer Deepak Sawant