Saturday, 2 February 2013

SRK clears the air

by lipika varma

Published: Thu, Jan 31, 2013

Posted by: AVS Newsroom

Soon after writing a piece for Outlook Turning Point 2013 (published by The New York Times) titled ‘Being Khan’, Shah Rukh Khan is back in the midst of controversy.

The article had created a huge hue and cry with Pakistan Minister Rehman Malik saying that India should provide the actor with necessary security. New Delhi retorted “asking them to mind their own business”.

In an attempt to clear the air, Khan said, “Ironically the article, I wrote was actually meant to reiterate that on some occasions my being an Indian Muslim film star is misused by bigots and narrow minded people who have misplaced religious ideologies for small gains… and ironically the same has happened through this article…once again.”

In the article Khan had written: “According to me, all our lives we are defined by three identities. Two of which are fortunately acquired by birth and are a matter of unconditional love and acceptance. The first identity is acquired by where one is born. Our Motherland. That defines us. So foremost all of us here like me are proud Indians. As I said being an Indian and my parents’ child is an unconditional accepted truth of my life and I am very proud of both. So I am a Khan, but no stereotyped image is factored into my idea of who I am. Instead, the living of my life has enabled me to be deeply touched by the love of millions of Indians. I have felt this love for the last 20 years regardless of the fact that my community is a minority within the population of India. I have been showered with love across national and cultural boundaries; they appreciate what I do for them as an entertainer.”

“Sometimes, my children ask me what religion they belong to and, like a good Hindi movie hero, I roll my eyes up to the sky and declare philosophically, ‘you are an Indian first and your religion is Humanity’, or sing them ‘tu hindu banega na musalmaan banega - insaan ki aulaad hai insaan banega’,” says Khan.

He said he didn’t understand the basis of the controversy.

“I think some of the people have not even read it and are reacting to comments of people, who in turn have also not read it. So I implore you all to first read it. Second, if you read it, nowhere does the article state or imply directly or indirectly that I feel unsafe, troubled or disturbed in India,” says SRK.

Furthermore he says, “It does not even vaguely say that I am ungrateful for the love that I have received in a career spanning 20 years. On the contrary the article only says that in spite of bigoted thoughts of some of the people that surround us, I am untouched by scepticism because of the love I have received by my countrymen and women.”

He added, “I would like to tell all those who are offering me unsolicited advice that we in India are extremely safe and happy. We have an amazing democratic, free and secular way of life. In the environs that we live here in my country India, we have no safety issues regarding life or material. As a matter of fact it is irksome for me to clarify this non-existent issue.

“Let’s not be misled by tools which use religion as an anchor for unrest and a policy of divide and rule,” says Shah Rukh.

Salim Khan’s rants against remakes

by lipika varma

Published: Wed, Jan 30, 2013

Posted by: AVS Newsroom

Salim Khan, who co-wrote ‘Zanjeer’ with Javed Akhtar, has gone to the Scriptwriter’s Association, demanding a fair share of royalty from Apoorva Lakhia who is remaking the Amitabh Bachchan film. Khan has demanded a compensation of Rs 6 crore as royalty from Reliance Entertainment and Amit Mehra (producers of the remake). “We are not against the remaking of films. Tell me, aren’t they going to sell their product? The product comprises the script, music etc. The situational emotional drama showcased in ‘Zanjeer’ stands pivotal to the making. Also, they are reviving the memories of the actions and drama played by Amitabh Bachchan and Pran who are remembered for their electrifying performances. ‘Zanjeer’ is a valuable film written by us. Filmmaking is a business and it needs to be dealt with as such,” he says.

'I was very hurt'

With his film finally being given the go-ahead for release, veteran star Kamal Haasan seems to be in a jubilant mood, but his underlying anxieties and pain were evident even as he addressed the media in Mumbai on Thursday.

On Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's decision on the Vishwaroopam ban, he merely offered, "The matter is sub-judice now, so I can't speak about it." Does he believe that the ban was a politically motivated revenge move on the CM's part? He shoots back, "Let me clarify one thing. Here at this press meet, I can see so many heads right now and it's difficult to tell who is a trouble maker and who is not. Similarly, several heads may have made the decision together. I will not be able to mention any names. For now, the government has agreed to revoke the ban. So let's see what's in store for us." Does he agree that there exists a fair amount of 'saffron terrorism', which is being supported by some ministers? "This is a matter of debate. I will only say that any terrorism, be it green, blue or whatever, should not be supported. My film Vishwaroopam doesn’t support terrorism at all and neither does it showcase Muslims in a bad light. In fact, the film portrays the intelligence of Muslim women and I am sure that in the future, many more talented Muslim women will make it to the top professionally," he points out.

"I was terribly hurt by the things some Muslim authorities said about my film. I’m not saying that they were not intelligent enough to discuss but there are a few more intelligent people in our country who could debate better without deviating from the real issue," adds Kamal, about the controversy surrounding his film.

"My 77-year-old elder brother Chandra Haasan, who heads Rajkamal films, is relieved by the government’s latest assurances and has slept soundly for four hours for the first time in three days," he shares further. About support from his peers, he says, “All my colleagues from Tollywood came to me and offered me coffee. Their concern makes me feel happy. We have lost a huge amount of money, around Rs 60 to Rs 70 crores, but money is not important compared to the respect of my country."

In the past couple of days, there have been several reports of the star threatening to leave India in search of a secular place. Does he really feel that way? "I didn’t say it to threaten. I said it because I was hurt by all the developments. For me, this cannot be any kind of publicity. In fact, I condemn such publicity because it shows my country India in bad light. We are a country of people from different castes, creeds and religion. I myself do not profess any religion. I’ve been mistaken for a Muslim because of my surname but it has never bothered me. Mahatma Gandhi once said 'I will live here, because I belong to this place'. Similarly, I belong to India; I make films for my Tamil, Telugu and Hindi audiences in return for all the love from my fans. Why would I even think of leaving my country? I only said it because I was literally hurt. And I will stick to my words if this is repeated."

Sunday, 20 January 2013

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Indian film explores harassment as Bollywood in spotlight

Written by ...........

Sunday, 20 January 2013 11:49

By Lipika Varma
MUMBAI (AFP) - A new Indian film looks at the sensitive topic of sexual harassment in the workplace at a time when Bollywood has come under fire for its portrayal of women, after a fatal gang-rape shocked the nation.
"Inkaar" (Denial), a Hindi movie combining crime and romance, explores how a relationship turns sour between Rahul, the alpha male CEO of an advertising agency, and his ambitious protegee Maya, who rises up the company's ranks.
She claims sexual harassment, a charge he flatly denies, and the film develops through a series of flashbacks as the pair tell their story to a social worker looking at the case.
The theme is an unusual one in an industry that has faced fresh criticism for objectifying women as merely skimpily dressed arm candy for a macho hero.
The brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi on December 16 sparked shockwaves and protests across the nation, along with much soul-searching about its treatment and portrayal of women.
Director Sudhir Mishra said the timing of Inkaar's release, on Friday, was a coincidence but he hoped the film would spark debate on under-discussed issues facing modern and rapidly urbanising India.
"The film explains the environment of a workplace from both men's and women's points of view," he told AFP.
"Everyone has a point of view on a subject, especially something as strong as sexual harassment. I have come across a cluster of people who work in different offices and they have similar stories to narrate."
Inkaar's initial reviews say it has failed to live up to its promise, and should have pushed further its exploration of gender politics in the office.
"The tough questions that the film had started to lay out for us... all get buried under a hurried, compromised end," said The Indian Express.
But film trade analyst Komal Nahta described it as a "brave attempt" to take on a "bold subject".
"Films based on sexual harassment should be made more and more, but the filmmaker should handle this delicate subject with utmost care," he told AFP.
While Bollywood avoids on-screen sexual contact and even kissing scenes, questions over its alleged commodification of women have intensified since last month's horrific gang-rape.

The "item number" has come under particular fire -- a musical performance often unrelated to the plot, featuring scantily clad women in sexually suggestive dance routines.
When the film returns to the storyline, the main female character is often tirelessly wooed by the male protagonist until she gives in to him.
"We talk about public or police apathy towards crimes against women but nothing comes close to the antipathy shown to women by Bollywood," said award-winning playwright Mahesh Dattani in a scathing column.
"Bollywood loathes women. Bollywood is a monster that has gone horribly wrong," he said.
Shabana Azmi, a 62-year-old actor known for her roles in Indian New Wave cinema from the 1970s, suggested there was some responsibility on younger women in the business to insist on better portrayal of female characters.
"Celebration of a woman's sensuality is healthy but commodification is not and our heroines will do well to make more discerning choices," she said on Twitter.
Others in the industry defended its movies, saying Bollywood had become a soft target that could not be blamed for inciting violence.
Chitrangada Singh, the female lead in Inkaar, said song-and-dance numbers in films had been around for decades. She pointed in particular to Helen, a legendary Indian star in the 1970s and the most famous "item girl".
"Helen did a lot of dances during my mother's time but men were not like this," she told AFP.
Veteran art film actor and television presenter Farooq Sheikh suggested that scripts had deteriorated over the years. "Intelligent writers need to be given a chance," he said.
An alternative Bollywood is starting to emerge: a crop of "Hindi Indie" directors have done well on the festival circuit and even some mainstream films have departed from the typical love story themes.
Films such as last year's thriller "Kahaani" (Story) and "The Dirty Picture" a year earlier, both starring Vidya Balan, have won praise for presenting stronger female characters.
Among India's leading independent filmmakers is Anurag Kashyap, who said it was up to the audience to make movie-makers adapt.
"Cinema is business and whatever will work, they'll keep doing that," he told NDTV. "You want that to change, stop watching those films... stop buying those tickets."

Indian film explores harassment as Bollywood in spotlight

afpBy by Lipika Varma | Agence-France Presse – 3 hours ago

Indian film explores harassment as Bollywood in spotlight

By by Lipika Varma | Agence-France Presse – 3 hours ago

A protester holds a sign during a rally against the the gang-rape and murder

Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi is pictured in Mumbai on October 10, 2012. She suggested …

A new Indian film looks at the sensitive topic of sexual harassment in the workplace at a time when Bollywood has come under fire for its portrayal of women, after a fatal gang-rape shocked the nation.

"Inkaar" (Denial), a Hindi movie combining crime and romance, explores how a relationship turns sour between Rahul, the alpha male CEO of an advertising agency, and his ambitious protegee Maya, who rises up the company's ranks.

She claims sexual harassment, a charge he flatly denies, and the film develops through a series of flashbacks as the pair tell their story to a social worker looking at the case.

The theme is an unusual one in an industry that has faced fresh criticism for objectifying women as merely skimpily dressed arm candy for a macho hero.

The brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi on December 16 sparked shockwaves and protests across the nation, along with much soul-searching about its treatment and portrayal of women.

Director Sudhir Mishra said the timing of Inkaar's release, on Friday, was a coincidence but he hoped the film would spark debate on under-discussed issues facing modern and rapidly urbanising India.

"The film explains the environment of a workplace from both men's and women's points of view," he told AFP.

"Everyone has a point of view on a subject, especially something as strong as sexual harassment. I have come across a cluster of people who work in different offices and they have similar stories to narrate."

Inkaar's initial reviews say it has failed to live up to its promise, and should have pushed further its exploration of gender politics in the office.

"The tough questions that the film had started to lay out for us... all get buried under a hurried, compromised end," said The Indian Express.

But film trade analyst Komal Nahta described it as a "brave attempt" to take on a "bold subject".

"Films based on sexual harassment should be made more and more, but the filmmaker should handle this delicate subject with utmost care," he told AFP.

While Bollywood avoids on-screen sexual contact and even kissing scenes, questions over its alleged commodification of women have intensified since last month's horrific gang-rape.

The "item number" has come under particular fire -- a musical performance often unrelated to the plot, featuring scantily clad women in sexually suggestive dance routines.

When the film returns to the storyline, the main female character is often tirelessly wooed by the male protagonist until she gives in to him.

"We talk about public or police apathy towards crimes against women but nothing comes close to the antipathy shown to women by Bollywood," said award-winning playwright Mahesh Dattani in a scathing column.

"Bollywood loathes women. Bollywood is a monster that has gone horribly wrong," he said.

Shabana Azmi, a 62-year-old actor known for her roles in Indian New Wave cinema from the 1970s, suggested there was some responsibility on younger women in the business to insist on better portrayal of female characters.

"Celebration of a woman's sensuality is healthy but commodification is not and our heroines will do well to make more discerning choices," she said on Twitter.

Others in the industry defended its movies, saying Bollywood had become a soft target that could not be blamed for inciting violence.

Chitrangada Singh, the female lead in Inkaar, said song-and-dance numbers in films had been around for decades. She pointed in particular to Helen, a legendary Indian star in the 1970s and the most famous "item girl".

"Helen did a lot of dances during my mother's time but men were not like this," she told AFP.

Veteran art film actor and television presenter Farooq Sheikh suggested that scripts had deteriorated over the years. "Intelligent writers need to be given a chance," he said.

An alternative Bollywood is starting to emerge: a crop of "Hindi Indie" directors have done well on the festival circuit and even some mainstream films have departed from the typical love story themes.

Films such as last year's thriller "Kahaani" (Story) and "The Dirty Picture" a year earlier, both starring Vidya Balan, have won praise for presenting stronger female characters.

Among India's leading independent filmmakers is Anurag Kashyap, who said it was up to the audience to make movie-makers adapt.

"Cinema is business and whatever will work, they'll keep doing that," he told NDTV. "You want that to change, stop watching those films... stop buying those tickets."

'Inkaar' stars Arjun Rampal (L) and Chitrangada Singh is pictured on December 27, 2012 with director Sudhir Mishra (R). The film looks at the sensitive topic of sexual harassment in the workplace at a time when Bollywood has come under fire for its portrayal of women, after a fatal gang-rape shocked the nation.

A protester holds a sign during a rally against the the gang-rape and murder of a student in India on January 16, 2013. The brutal gang-rape and murder of the 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi on December 16 sparked shockwaves and protests across the nation.

Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi is pictured in Mumbai on October 10, 2012. She suggested there was some responsibility on younger women in the business to insist on better portrayal of female characters.

Saturday, 19 January 2013

There are still a few good people left in our country

by Lipika Varma

Published: Fri, Jan 18, 2013

Posted by: AVS Newsroom

Salman Khan’s Being Human clothing store may have been launched in India after having taken off in Belgium, Dubai and other places. But Salman is very happy about shaking hands with Mandhana Industries. “I keep discarding stuff if I don’t find it up to the mark. I have to keep reminding them that the brand is with me and they have to be human to have the franchise. They need not fly high only because they are associated with me. They have to work hard and make excellent quality stuff,” says Salman light-heartedly.

The actor says he does interfere with the designing of the clothes to a certain extent. “Alvira handles the designing section. But we discuss the issue as a family before the clothes are designed. My artistic calibre goes into designing BH clothes at a later stage. Owing to my busy schedule I have yet not taken to designing fully.” Salman gives credit to Somy Ali for helping with the title of the brand. “I remember that Somy Ali once came wearing a T-shirt on which was written Human Being. When I looked at it from right, I read it as Human Being. But, no sooner did I turn towards the left and visualized what was inscribed on her shirt, I saw Being Human. There, in one night, Being Human was born,” says Sallu.

He says there’s a big no-no for any donations for marriage purposes. “Yes! I remember my parents had got married spending only Rs 80. Our Being Human is going to extend all donations to people who really deserve medical aide and education. I will like to extend help through Being Human to the children of watchmen and people working in Grade 4 services. They are the ones who really need to educate their children. At times we were conned by few people. Hence we have tried to extend our help to the needy. We have engaged doctors who will assess the real needs of those who come to us,” informs Salman.

He adds that once a keymaker approached him. “He wanted medical aid for his kid. We gave him just Rs 50,000. But his child died before this money could help him survive. Guess what? This guy returned the money! My dad gave him the same money to help him get his machines and earn his daily bread. Surprisingly, as soon as he earned Rs 50,000, he came and gave it back to us. So I say, there are good people still living in our country.” Reminiscing his childhood days Salman says, “We were not very affluent financially. I remember we would buy just one pair of jeans from Chor Bazaar and it would be shared between Arbaaz and me. Sohail was the pampered one and he would buy new clothes. When the jeans would tear, we wore it the same way, not knowing that torn jeans were already in vogue.”

Salman says generosity is in his genes, “It comes from my dad. But don’t forget we are also ’satku’ people. I think it irritates me when our franchise is duplicated and sold by others. Such guys need to be brought to task. Our stuff is affordable. Anyone can go to our outlet and buy it. A part of my salary too goes towards Being Human regularly.”

“Sanjay Dutt and Karan Johar have donated towards BH. We are also looking forward to opening a website and will be soon focusing on opening a few restaurants as well,” says Pocket Hercules talking about his future plans. Extending help to the people belonging to the film industry he says, “I am not the only one who helps industrywallahs. There are many people who come forward extending their help to the needy who may have served the industry at some point of time.” Talking about the sad case of Jagdish Mali he says, “I got an SMS from him one day. All I had to do was to send few messages to the right people and make a few calls. But I do not need to boast about my service to mankind. I have come out openly for the first time because we decided to do so in order to be able to reach to larger people who are in dire need.”