Her incandescent beauty, innocent sensuality, and effervescent persona still send hearts aflutter and earned her the sobriquet of “Venus of Indian films”, but Madhubala’s enigmatic and beguiling smile and charm masked a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Madhubala, who passed away on this day (February 23) in 1969, earned tributes that have rarely been matched, leave alone surpassed.
She acted in a film named after her when she was not even midway through her career, was being copied or parodied when she was still acting, and is possibly the only Indian, film or otherwise, with a song dedicated to her being played at the Olympics.
She was also compared to the near-contemporary Marilyn Monroe – the two would pass away within a few years of each other, both aged 36, but did not welcome this as she did not consider herself a sex symbol.
Performances as the captivating but star-crossed Anarkali of “Mughal-e-Azam...
Madhubala, who passed away on this day (February 23) in 1969, earned tributes that have rarely been matched, leave alone surpassed.
She acted in a film named after her when she was not even midway through her career, was being copied or parodied when she was still acting, and is possibly the only Indian, film or otherwise, with a song dedicated to her being played at the Olympics.
She was also compared to the near-contemporary Marilyn Monroe – the two would pass away within a few years of each other, both aged 36, but did not welcome this as she did not consider herself a sex symbol.
Performances as the captivating but star-crossed Anarkali of “Mughal-e-Azam...
- 2/23/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
After the recently-concluded ‘Bachchanalia’ where Amitabh Bachchan memorabilia went under the hammer, the auction house DeRivaz & Ives has announced a similar tribute to ‘feminine icons’ of Indian cinema.
Vintage souvenirs of Bollywood actresses that will also celebrate a saga of beauty and their acting prowess will be auctioned in Mumbai.
The auction will celebrate actresses like Nadia, Jayashree, Devika Rani, Noor Jahan, Suraiya, Nargis, Geeta Bali, Bina Rai, Madhubala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Mala Sinha, Suchitra Sen, Shashikala, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and many more.
Titled ‘Feminine Icons of Indian Cinema’, the auction will be held on November 23-25, and a variety of iconic photographs, film posters, lobby cards and other original artworks will be on offer for film buffs.
Among them will be a rare ‘The Light of Asia’ original publicity still in silver gelatin, of the classic 1925 Indian silent film...
Vintage souvenirs of Bollywood actresses that will also celebrate a saga of beauty and their acting prowess will be auctioned in Mumbai.
The auction will celebrate actresses like Nadia, Jayashree, Devika Rani, Noor Jahan, Suraiya, Nargis, Geeta Bali, Bina Rai, Madhubala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Mala Sinha, Suchitra Sen, Shashikala, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and many more.
Titled ‘Feminine Icons of Indian Cinema’, the auction will be held on November 23-25, and a variety of iconic photographs, film posters, lobby cards and other original artworks will be on offer for film buffs.
Among them will be a rare ‘The Light of Asia’ original publicity still in silver gelatin, of the classic 1925 Indian silent film...
- 11/1/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
After the recently-concluded ‘Bachchanalia’ where Amitabh Bachchan memorabilia went under the hammer, the auction house DeRivaz & Ives has announced a similar tribute to ‘feminine icons’ of Indian cinema.
Vintage souvenirs of Bollywood actresses that will also celebrate a saga of beauty and their acting prowess will be auctioned in Mumbai.
The auction will celebrate actresses like Nadia, Jayashree, Devika Rani, Noor Jahan, Suraiya, Nargis, Geeta Bali, Bina Rai, Madhubala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Mala Sinha, Suchitra Sen, Shashikala, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and many more.
Titled ‘Feminine Icons of Indian Cinema’, the auction will be held on November 23-25, and a variety of iconic photographs, film posters, lobby cards and other original artworks will be on offer for film buffs.
Among them will be a rare ‘The Light of Asia’ original publicity still in silver gelatin, of the classic 1925 Indian silent film...
Vintage souvenirs of Bollywood actresses that will also celebrate a saga of beauty and their acting prowess will be auctioned in Mumbai.
The auction will celebrate actresses like Nadia, Jayashree, Devika Rani, Noor Jahan, Suraiya, Nargis, Geeta Bali, Bina Rai, Madhubala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Mala Sinha, Suchitra Sen, Shashikala, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and many more.
Titled ‘Feminine Icons of Indian Cinema’, the auction will be held on November 23-25, and a variety of iconic photographs, film posters, lobby cards and other original artworks will be on offer for film buffs.
Among them will be a rare ‘The Light of Asia’ original publicity still in silver gelatin, of the classic 1925 Indian silent film...
- 11/1/2023
- by Agency News Desk
In a display of admiration towards ‘Abhinay Samrat’ Dilip Kumar, megastar Amitabh Bachchan shared how the former was offered three screen names, calling him an extraordinary artist and human being. Born as Mohammed Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar was credited with pioneering method acting in cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he holds the most dominant box-office record for a star in Hindi cinema.
In the episode 32 of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Pinki, a homemaker from Hisar, Haryana, to the hot seat.
For the 12th question for the amount of Rs 12,50,000, she was asked: Which of these names was one of the options suggested to Yusuf Khan as his screen name before he took up the name Dilip Kumar?
The options given were – Akbar, Shah Jahan, Babur and Jahangir.
Big B said: “I’m the biggest fan of Dilip Kumar. But even I don’t know,...
In the episode 32 of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Pinki, a homemaker from Hisar, Haryana, to the hot seat.
For the 12th question for the amount of Rs 12,50,000, she was asked: Which of these names was one of the options suggested to Yusuf Khan as his screen name before he took up the name Dilip Kumar?
The options given were – Akbar, Shah Jahan, Babur and Jahangir.
Big B said: “I’m the biggest fan of Dilip Kumar. But even I don’t know,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Agency News Desk
In a display of admiration towards ‘Abhinay Samrat’ Dilip Kumar, megastar Amitabh Bachchan shared how the former was offered three screen names, calling him an extraordinary artist and human being. Born as Mohammed Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar was credited with pioneering method acting in cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he holds the most dominant box-office record for a star in Hindi cinema.
In the episode 32 of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Pinki, a homemaker from Hisar, Haryana, to the hot seat.
For the 12th question for the amount of Rs 12,50,000, she was asked: Which of these names was one of the options suggested to Yusuf Khan as his screen name before he took up the name Dilip Kumar?
The options given were – Akbar, Shah Jahan, Babur and Jahangir.
Big B said: “I’m the biggest fan of Dilip Kumar. But even I don’t know,...
In the episode 32 of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Pinki, a homemaker from Hisar, Haryana, to the hot seat.
For the 12th question for the amount of Rs 12,50,000, she was asked: Which of these names was one of the options suggested to Yusuf Khan as his screen name before he took up the name Dilip Kumar?
The options given were – Akbar, Shah Jahan, Babur and Jahangir.
Big B said: “I’m the biggest fan of Dilip Kumar. But even I don’t know,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI, and sign up for our weekly email newsletter by clicking here.NEWSWe’re excited to share the cover for Issue 3 of Notebook, which features a photograph of pioneering Indian actor-producer Devika Rani. Last week we sneak-previewed what will be the subscribers-only gift: a weatherproof sleeve. Subscriptions for the magazine are always open, but in order to receive Issue 3, you’ll need to subscribe by June 1. So if you haven’t yet, don’t hesitate! Some news from the Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. Notebook contributor Leonardo Goi will be organizing their Critics Campus, a four-day workshop for emerging film critics, in early July. Applications are now open: submit yours today. Recommended VIEWINGHow To With John Wilson is returning for its third, and final, season, which will premiere July 28 on "Max," the...
- 5/31/2023
- MUBI
Mumbai, May 17 (Ians) The uncanny similarities between Anand Swarnakar, Vijay Varma’s evil character in the web series “Dahaad”, and the serial killer notorious as ‘Cyanide Mohan’ have not escaped people familiar with the real-life story.
What’s striking, though, is the silence of the “Dahaad” makers — Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s Excel Entertainment — on the inspiration for the show.
Mohan Kumar Vivekanand, aka ‘Cyanide Mohan’, was a soft-spoken physical education teacher between 1980 and 2003 before his arrest at his home village outside Mangaluru, Karnataka, in 2009. In “Dahaad”, Anand Swarnakar teaches Hindi in a women’s college in Rajasthan. But that is where the dissimilarities end.
‘Cyanide Mohan’ was arrested on the charge on marrying women from economically less privileged families, killing them using cyanide-laced contraceptive pills after spending a night with them, and dumping their bodies clad in wedding finery in public toilets. He repeated this crime 20 times. Sounds familiar?...
What’s striking, though, is the silence of the “Dahaad” makers — Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s Excel Entertainment — on the inspiration for the show.
Mohan Kumar Vivekanand, aka ‘Cyanide Mohan’, was a soft-spoken physical education teacher between 1980 and 2003 before his arrest at his home village outside Mangaluru, Karnataka, in 2009. In “Dahaad”, Anand Swarnakar teaches Hindi in a women’s college in Rajasthan. But that is where the dissimilarities end.
‘Cyanide Mohan’ was arrested on the charge on marrying women from economically less privileged families, killing them using cyanide-laced contraceptive pills after spending a night with them, and dumping their bodies clad in wedding finery in public toilets. He repeated this crime 20 times. Sounds familiar?...
- 5/17/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Jubilee
After a brief “interval” as Prime Video called the break between the first five episodes and the remaining five episode, Vikramaditya Motwane’s Jubilee, looking at the development of Indian cinema from its beginnings to the 1950s, returns with more angst and dramatic conflict than the streaming platform has seen in recent times.
It is interesting that Motwane remarkable ride through the bumpy corridors of our celluloid dreamers’s imagination, chooses to end on a Guru Dutt like defeatist note. At the end of Episode 10, there is a young character named Naren(vaguely modeled on Kishore Kumar) who sings a song clearly inspired by Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye toh kya hai from Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa.
Nobody is happy at the end. Every character is unhappy or dead. Motwane’s Devika Rani, rechristened Sumitra Devi, and played by Aditi Rao Hydari is acertifiable alcoholic at the end.
After a brief “interval” as Prime Video called the break between the first five episodes and the remaining five episode, Vikramaditya Motwane’s Jubilee, looking at the development of Indian cinema from its beginnings to the 1950s, returns with more angst and dramatic conflict than the streaming platform has seen in recent times.
It is interesting that Motwane remarkable ride through the bumpy corridors of our celluloid dreamers’s imagination, chooses to end on a Guru Dutt like defeatist note. At the end of Episode 10, there is a young character named Naren(vaguely modeled on Kishore Kumar) who sings a song clearly inspired by Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye toh kya hai from Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa.
Nobody is happy at the end. Every character is unhappy or dead. Motwane’s Devika Rani, rechristened Sumitra Devi, and played by Aditi Rao Hydari is acertifiable alcoholic at the end.
- 4/15/2023
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
Jubilee
Lights, sound, camera… action! And here we go. At last, a series that encapsulates the genesis of Hindi cinema…the good, bad, and the ogling.
The fun part of Vikramaditya Motwane’s see-real is to spot who’s who and … my God, is this true??!!! Motwane’s writer Atul Sabharwal uses historical facts to create a kind of free-flowing fusion of fact and fantasy that is at once arresting and liberating.
From the silent era in the 1940s to the not-so-silent era when the Partition of 1947 tore the nation into two, Jubilee begins its comprehensive exhilarating journey by introducing us to the brooding maverick producer Srikant Roy, most meticulously modeled on the legendary Himanshu Rai. As played by Prosenjit Chatterjee, Roy is wily and mysterious, ambitious and nasty…It’s a brutal role played with tremendous understanding.
In comparison Aditya Roy Hydari as Roy’s wife Sumitra Devi (modeled...
Lights, sound, camera… action! And here we go. At last, a series that encapsulates the genesis of Hindi cinema…the good, bad, and the ogling.
The fun part of Vikramaditya Motwane’s see-real is to spot who’s who and … my God, is this true??!!! Motwane’s writer Atul Sabharwal uses historical facts to create a kind of free-flowing fusion of fact and fantasy that is at once arresting and liberating.
From the silent era in the 1940s to the not-so-silent era when the Partition of 1947 tore the nation into two, Jubilee begins its comprehensive exhilarating journey by introducing us to the brooding maverick producer Srikant Roy, most meticulously modeled on the legendary Himanshu Rai. As played by Prosenjit Chatterjee, Roy is wily and mysterious, ambitious and nasty…It’s a brutal role played with tremendous understanding.
In comparison Aditya Roy Hydari as Roy’s wife Sumitra Devi (modeled...
- 4/7/2023
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
As the singing reality show, ‘Indian Idol 13’ reaches its finale, contestants Debosmita Roy and Shivam Singh celebrated 110 years of feature films in India which started with the silent movie ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913. They performed the iconic song ‘Main Ban Ki Chidiya Banke’ from the 1936 classic film ‘Achhut Kannya’ featuring Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani.
‘Achhut Kannya’ was a story that highlighted an important issue of untouchability practiced in the country at that time and it was among the initial successful films of that era. It was directed by Bavarian filmmaker Franz Osten and is considered to be a reformist project. Later, in 1953, director Amiya Chakrabarty made the film ‘Patita’ starring Dev Anand and Usha Kiran on the same theme and it was followed by Bimal Roy’s ‘Sujata’ featuring Nutan which was released in 1959.
Their performance grabbed the eyeballs of the judges as well as celebrity guests including choreographer Geeta Kapur...
‘Achhut Kannya’ was a story that highlighted an important issue of untouchability practiced in the country at that time and it was among the initial successful films of that era. It was directed by Bavarian filmmaker Franz Osten and is considered to be a reformist project. Later, in 1953, director Amiya Chakrabarty made the film ‘Patita’ starring Dev Anand and Usha Kiran on the same theme and it was followed by Bimal Roy’s ‘Sujata’ featuring Nutan which was released in 1959.
Their performance grabbed the eyeballs of the judges as well as celebrity guests including choreographer Geeta Kapur...
- 4/2/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Shimla, March 20 (Ians) Himachali handloom comprising Kulvi shawls and folk dance ‘Natti’ were showcased at the ‘Shining Himachal’ event organised by the Himachali Pravasi Global Association (Hpga) in association with the High Commission of India to Canada under theme ‘One District One Product’ (Odop) in Ottawa.
Deputy High Commissioner of India to Canada, Chinmoy Naik, attended the event on Sunday as a chief guest.
MP Chandra Arya, Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora, Mayor Office Councillor Lina Jhonson and approximately 19 organisations joined the event with great enthusiasm.
The Hpga showcased Himachali handloom like Kulvi shawls, caps, mufflers, etc., world famous Kangra tea and research work of Iit Mandi.
The event was joined through virtual mode by Himachal-based Bhuttico Society chairman Satya Prakash Thakur, who spoke about the history of Himachali handloom industry, while the importance of Kangra tea from British-era estates was shared by Rajiv Sood from Himalayan Brew Tea...
Deputy High Commissioner of India to Canada, Chinmoy Naik, attended the event on Sunday as a chief guest.
MP Chandra Arya, Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora, Mayor Office Councillor Lina Jhonson and approximately 19 organisations joined the event with great enthusiasm.
The Hpga showcased Himachali handloom like Kulvi shawls, caps, mufflers, etc., world famous Kangra tea and research work of Iit Mandi.
The event was joined through virtual mode by Himachal-based Bhuttico Society chairman Satya Prakash Thakur, who spoke about the history of Himachali handloom industry, while the importance of Kangra tea from British-era estates was shared by Rajiv Sood from Himalayan Brew Tea...
- 3/20/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
She had a film named after her even before she hit her career’s peak, was being parodied when she was still active, and is the only Indian film actress who has a song to her played at the Olympics. That was the spell of Madhubala, whose angelic features, beguiling yet enigmatic smile, and incandescent beauty, coupled with her restrained but undeniable talent, made her part of some of Hindi cinema’s most iconic films.
While she is imprinted in the hearts and minds of film-watchers as the winsome, entrancing but star-crossed Anarkali of “Mughal-e-Azam” (1960), as the entrancing nightclub singer in “Howrah Bridge”, and for her exuberant, effusive, and elfin charm in romantic comedies “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” (1958), “Jhumroo” (1961) and “Half Ticket” (1962), she left her mark across film genres from ghost/gothic stories to comic crime capers to film noir, beyond the usual romantic dramas in a relatively short career.
While she is imprinted in the hearts and minds of film-watchers as the winsome, entrancing but star-crossed Anarkali of “Mughal-e-Azam” (1960), as the entrancing nightclub singer in “Howrah Bridge”, and for her exuberant, effusive, and elfin charm in romantic comedies “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” (1958), “Jhumroo” (1961) and “Half Ticket” (1962), she left her mark across film genres from ghost/gothic stories to comic crime capers to film noir, beyond the usual romantic dramas in a relatively short career.
- 2/14/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
With Yusuf Khan back in Mumbai and his Pune sojourn over, his major goal was to get gainfully employed or target new avenues of earning to share the family burden. He was blissfully unaware that lady luck was about to smile on him. The turn of events propitiously sequenced by providence was to catapult young Yusuf Khan into Dilip Kumar, the megastar of the then Bombay film industry now dubbed as Bollywood.
There are many versions of Dilip Kumar’s entry in the film industry but we shall recount here only the version we believe is the most authentic.
Yusuf commenced his endeavours in the city by helping his Agha ji in his fruits business. His ageing father was becoming rather frail, so Yusuf started travelling to the orchards in the hilly regions of Dehradun and Nainital in north India. Little did the young man know that one of these...
There are many versions of Dilip Kumar’s entry in the film industry but we shall recount here only the version we believe is the most authentic.
Yusuf commenced his endeavours in the city by helping his Agha ji in his fruits business. His ageing father was becoming rather frail, so Yusuf started travelling to the orchards in the hilly regions of Dehradun and Nainital in north India. Little did the young man know that one of these...
- 12/11/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
From a family of prominent lawyers, he was expected to follow in their footsteps, but instead chose a career in the fledgling Hindi film industry – and uncharacteristically, not as a hero. Virtually dragooned by his legendary boss taking over a lead role, despite the director’s opposition, he, in his first-ever take, muffed up a simple scene with the heroine, and then, left the villain with a fractured leg.
That, in 1936, was the rather farcical start of the career of Ashok Kumar, who was born on this day in 1911.
Undaunted, he went on to establish himself not only as Hindi cinema’s first superstar as the 1940s began, but also one who was known for his air of naturalness and his willingness to reinvent himself and experiment with playing morally ambiguous or anti-hero roles.
At the appropriate time, he moved on to playing more mature roles in line with his age,...
That, in 1936, was the rather farcical start of the career of Ashok Kumar, who was born on this day in 1911.
Undaunted, he went on to establish himself not only as Hindi cinema’s first superstar as the 1940s began, but also one who was known for his air of naturalness and his willingness to reinvent himself and experiment with playing morally ambiguous or anti-hero roles.
At the appropriate time, he moved on to playing more mature roles in line with his age,...
- 10/13/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
National Film AwardsThe winners for the 68th National Film Awards were selected by the 10-member jury headed by Hindi filmmaker Vipul Shah.Tnm StaffBody 2:
The winners of the 68th National Film Awards were announced on Friday, July 22. The names of the winners were announced in a press conference at Delhi’s National Media Centre. Films from the southern states have swept the awards with wins in several key categories. Sudha Kongara Tamil directorial Soorarai Pottru, which is inspired by the life of Air Deccan founder Capt Gr Gopinath, won five awards including Best Feature Film. Late Malayalam filmmaker Sochy’s Ayyapannum Koshiyum received the Best Director category among other wins.
Ajay Devgn and Suriya won the Best Actor award, for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Soorarai Pottru, respectively. Tanhaji also won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Tanhaji is based on the life of Tanaji Malusare,...
The winners of the 68th National Film Awards were announced on Friday, July 22. The names of the winners were announced in a press conference at Delhi’s National Media Centre. Films from the southern states have swept the awards with wins in several key categories. Sudha Kongara Tamil directorial Soorarai Pottru, which is inspired by the life of Air Deccan founder Capt Gr Gopinath, won five awards including Best Feature Film. Late Malayalam filmmaker Sochy’s Ayyapannum Koshiyum received the Best Director category among other wins.
Ajay Devgn and Suriya won the Best Actor award, for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Soorarai Pottru, respectively. Tanhaji also won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Tanhaji is based on the life of Tanaji Malusare,...
- 7/22/2022
- by BharathyS
- The News Minute
CinemaThe actor also thanked all the directors, producers, technicians, distributors, theatre owners, media houses, and his fans across the world.Tnm StaffIt was announced on Thursday that actor Rajinikanth will be the 51st recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s highest honour for cinema artists. As wishes continued to pour in, the 70-year-old actor put out a thank-you note, also conveying his regards to all those who wished him. Expressing gratitude to the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajini, who is fondly referred to as ‘Thalaivar’ and Superstar by his fans, conveyed his foremost thanks to his closest friend Raj Bahadur, who worked as a bus driver when the former was a conductor. Rajini's life story from being a bus conductor to one of the top most stars in Indian cinema is the stuff of legend. “For discovering my acting skill and for encouraging me, my friend Raj Bahadur,...
- 4/1/2021
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
CinemaThe 5-member jury included Asha Bhosle, Mohanlal, Shankar Mahadevan, Subhash Ghai and Vishwajeet Chatterjee. Tnm StaffSuperstar Rajinikanth will be receiving the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Union Minister Prakash Javedkar took to Twitter on Thursday to confirm that the prestigious award will be conferred upon Rajinikanth, who is also popularly known among fans as ‘Thalaivar’. Praising the actor for his commendable contribution to Indian cinema, Prakash Javedkar wrote, “Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji His contribution as actor, producer and screenwriter has been iconic I thank Jury @ashabhosle@SubhashGhai1@Mohanlal@Shankar_Live#BiswajeetChatterjee." Asha Bhosle, Mohanlal, Shankar Mahadevan, Subhash Ghai and Vishwajeet Chatterjee were on the five-judge panel. The award to be presented to Rajinikanth on May 3. Happy to announce #Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 to one of the greatest actors in history of Indian cinema Rajnikant ji His contribution as actor,...
- 4/1/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
FilmHowever, activists are objecting to the move as it is one of the last remaining grasslands near Bengaluru.Tnm StaffThe Karnataka government plans to construct the long-pending film city project in Hesaraghatta, returning to the original location proposed by former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde over 30 years ago. In January this year, the Karnataka government announced that it had dropped its plan to construct the film city in the Roerich and Devika Rani estate in Bengaluru as there were several complaints that it would amount to encroaching on an eco-sensitive zone. The Bjp government led by Bs Yediyurappa now plans to construct it at a 150-acre plot in Hesaraghatta in northwest Bengaluru. The plot is part of some land belonging to the Animal Husbandry department. The fresh proposal is also a point of contention for conservationists. "It is one of the last remaining grasslands in Bengaluru and a lake area which is home to migratory birds.
- 8/14/2020
- by Prajwal
- The News Minute
By Rima Bhatia and Stacey Yount
So you think you know Bollywood? The glamour, the gossip and all the secrets? Do you consider yourself a Bollywood expert? Well, to test our research skills to find some of the most hidden and obscure facts, we have put together a list to test your Bolly-knowledge.
So settle down with a warm drink and read away… and don’t forget to comment how many facts you knew… and which fact blew your mind!
The first short film from India was 1898’s Hiralal Sen’s The Flower of Persia.
Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra is known as The first full length feature film from India. The black and white film released on May 3, 1913 in Mumbai. It was only 40 minutes long.
Ram Chandra Gopal “Dadasaheb” Torne’s Shree Pundalik was the very first film; it was shown in Mumbai on 18 May 1912. However, it was processed overseas and is only 22 minutes.
So you think you know Bollywood? The glamour, the gossip and all the secrets? Do you consider yourself a Bollywood expert? Well, to test our research skills to find some of the most hidden and obscure facts, we have put together a list to test your Bolly-knowledge.
So settle down with a warm drink and read away… and don’t forget to comment how many facts you knew… and which fact blew your mind!
The first short film from India was 1898’s Hiralal Sen’s The Flower of Persia.
Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra is known as The first full length feature film from India. The black and white film released on May 3, 1913 in Mumbai. It was only 40 minutes long.
Ram Chandra Gopal “Dadasaheb” Torne’s Shree Pundalik was the very first film; it was shown in Mumbai on 18 May 1912. However, it was processed overseas and is only 22 minutes.
- 3/28/2020
- by BollySpice Team
- Bollyspice
Sonata
Starring Shabana Azmi, Aparna Sen, Lilette Dubey
Directed by Aparna Sen
Except for one of the women landing up with a black eye and another making a shocking announcement at the end of this enchanting chamber piece—a sort of Beethoven for the sexually impaired—nothing really ‘happens’ in the 90-minute celluloid discourse on post-menopausal sexuality and other related topics on how to be a woman past her prime, without guilt and the accompanying crimes.
A lot of the recriminations and remonstrations that are thrown back and forth between Shabana Azmi and Aparna Sen are selfconsciously stagey, like two people, two women, who have been so close to one another for such a long time that they can afford to ‘act’ in front of one another without the risk of being misconstrued or causing permanent damage to their mutual relationship.
The fact that Shabana and Aparna have been friends...
Starring Shabana Azmi, Aparna Sen, Lilette Dubey
Directed by Aparna Sen
Except for one of the women landing up with a black eye and another making a shocking announcement at the end of this enchanting chamber piece—a sort of Beethoven for the sexually impaired—nothing really ‘happens’ in the 90-minute celluloid discourse on post-menopausal sexuality and other related topics on how to be a woman past her prime, without guilt and the accompanying crimes.
A lot of the recriminations and remonstrations that are thrown back and forth between Shabana Azmi and Aparna Sen are selfconsciously stagey, like two people, two women, who have been so close to one another for such a long time that they can afford to ‘act’ in front of one another without the risk of being misconstrued or causing permanent damage to their mutual relationship.
The fact that Shabana and Aparna have been friends...
- 4/21/2017
- by Subhash K Jha
- Bollyspice
The shooting of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Priyanka Chopra venture, based on the life of Olympic medal winning boxer, Mary Kom, continues in the picturesque Manali town. The venue is still the local house at the heritage Naggar area (famous for the Roerich Art Gallery, once the house of legendary actress Devika Rani). The scenes being canned show Priyanka practicing with a boxing kit and also indulging in her daily chores, and playing with two small (local) girls. As per the...
- 3/28/2014
- GlamSham
Once upon a time actresses like Devika Rani and Zubeidaa ruled Indian cinema. Are actresses today getting equal opportunities in the over $2 billion film industry?
March 8 is International Women's Day, an appropriate time to take a look at the role of women in Indian cinema over the last 100 years.
When Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, released his "Raja Harischandra" in 1913, women used to shun movies and it was left to male artists to play female characters.
Times changed by the 1930s. Devika Rani, Zubeidaa, Mehtab, Shobhana Samarth - all women from affluent families -- entered the movie business and changed the face of Indian cinema by redefining the importance of women in films. They were followed.
March 8 is International Women's Day, an appropriate time to take a look at the role of women in Indian cinema over the last 100 years.
When Dadasaheb Phalke, the Father of Indian Cinema, released his "Raja Harischandra" in 1913, women used to shun movies and it was left to male artists to play female characters.
Times changed by the 1930s. Devika Rani, Zubeidaa, Mehtab, Shobhana Samarth - all women from affluent families -- entered the movie business and changed the face of Indian cinema by redefining the importance of women in films. They were followed.
- 3/5/2014
- by Arun Pandit
- RealBollywood.com
The members of the fraternity will agree that controversies are a part and parcel for their job. Members of the media will agree that if it had not been for these good, bad and ugly controversies, their jobs would be much harder. The year 2013 most definitely had its share of major controversies and yes like all good controversies, these are bad. BollySpice brings you 5 controversies of 2013 that goes down in Bollywood Controversy History!
1. Jiah Khan’s Death
The beautiful Jiah Khan’s untimely death has to be the one of the biggest scandals of Indian cinema in recent times. Ruled initially a suicide the tragic event was traumatic enough. And as Jiah’s mother released her final words the harsh realities of the entertainment industry came out all too blatantly. However, just when the mourning had settled came the news of police investigations revealing that the death most certainly involved foul play.
1. Jiah Khan’s Death
The beautiful Jiah Khan’s untimely death has to be the one of the biggest scandals of Indian cinema in recent times. Ruled initially a suicide the tragic event was traumatic enough. And as Jiah’s mother released her final words the harsh realities of the entertainment industry came out all too blatantly. However, just when the mourning had settled came the news of police investigations revealing that the death most certainly involved foul play.
- 1/4/2014
- by Prathna Tiwari
- Bollyspice
Readers are aware that Dilip Kumar was discovered by legendary actress of the 30's and 40's Devika Rani and founder of Bombay Talkies film studio in the early 30's. Dilip Kumar's father was a fruit seller in Mumbai. In his father's absence Dilip Kumar used to assist his father. One day Devika Rani happened to see him and was overwhelmed by his charismatic personality. She offered him her card and asked to meet her in office. Dilip Kumar was excited. However Dilip Kumar's first...
- 12/9/2013
- GlamSham
New Delhi, July 16: Over its 100 years of existence, Indian cinema has thrown up various lip-lock scenes - from Devika Rani to Rani Mukerji; from Himanshu Rai to serial kisser Emraan Hashmi, and now the small screen is not far behind either. But looking at making your own experience special? Here's how!
Kissing is an art and experts say you must follow some rules. Firstly, lovers should be careful about hygiene, says Shikha Giri, consultant prosthodontist and implantologist.
"Brushing your teeth is very important. One should do it after dinner and after breakfast. In the morning, you should just massage your gums with your fingers.
Kissing is an art and experts say you must follow some rules. Firstly, lovers should be careful about hygiene, says Shikha Giri, consultant prosthodontist and implantologist.
"Brushing your teeth is very important. One should do it after dinner and after breakfast. In the morning, you should just massage your gums with your fingers.
- 7/16/2013
- by Leon David
- RealBollywood.com
New Delhi, June 30: It was sheer curiosity that led to a beautiful serendipity which has now become a mission for author-classical singer Vikram Sampath, who has created an archive of Indian classical music, Carnatic music, folk music and speeches from the pre-Independence era, digitised them and built a national treasure online.
The Archive of Indian Music(Aim) is a museum of sorts to listen to the golden voices of bygone era. The recordings span 1902 to 1952 and boast of many known and unknown names like Bhimsen Joshi, Devika Rani, Abdul Karim Khan, Hirabai Barodekar and Madurai Mani Iyer among others. It can be accessed at www.archiveofindianmusic.org.
"I was curious to listen to the voice of legendary singer Gauhar Jaan.
The Archive of Indian Music(Aim) is a museum of sorts to listen to the golden voices of bygone era. The recordings span 1902 to 1952 and boast of many known and unknown names like Bhimsen Joshi, Devika Rani, Abdul Karim Khan, Hirabai Barodekar and Madurai Mani Iyer among others. It can be accessed at www.archiveofindianmusic.org.
"I was curious to listen to the voice of legendary singer Gauhar Jaan.
- 6/30/2013
- by Smith Cox
- RealBollywood.com
“We actors are completely oblivious of ourselves and our surroundings while we perform and even when we watch our work in the rushes shown to us, our senses and vision are trained to detect shortcomings more than accomplishments. That’s the only way we know to improve and render performances that come close to our own satisfaction. And it is always the audience who have the absolute right to acclaim or reject our work, however hard we may have worked to achieve perfection and excellence.” – Dilip Kumar in a letter to Amitabh Bachchan on 14 December 2011
One article alone is not enough to write about the profound impact which Mr Dilip Kumar has had on many people and on Indian films. He himself may not have been aware of the fact that working in films would someday result in him being branded by film personalities and by fans worldwide as one...
One article alone is not enough to write about the profound impact which Mr Dilip Kumar has had on many people and on Indian films. He himself may not have been aware of the fact that working in films would someday result in him being branded by film personalities and by fans worldwide as one...
- 12/11/2012
- by Bodrul Chaudhury
- Bollyspice
New Delhi, July 11: From infamous Japanese movie "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" to "Karma" featuring Devika Rani-Himanshu Rai's lip-lock to crime thriller "Gangs Of Wasseypur" - the Osian's-Cinefan Film Festival, which returns after a two-year-hiatus, promises to be an eclectic platter for the capital's movie buffs.
It will showcase 175 films from 38 countries at the 10-day fest starting July 27.
The focus this time is on freedom of creative.
It will showcase 175 films from 38 countries at the 10-day fest starting July 27.
The focus this time is on freedom of creative.
- 7/11/2012
- by Arun Pandit
- RealBollywood.com
The iconic movie studio Bombay Talkies that was founded in 1934 and shut down in 1954 due to lack of funds is now being revived again. Bombay Talkies, which will reopen after 58 years, is all set to launch their first film in June this year. The film titled Zakhmi will feature 29 year old Abhay Kumar, the grandson of the studio's founder Rajnarayan Dube, along with Sayali Bhagat and Mithun Chakraborty. Bombay Talkies had launched some of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema like Devika Rani, Ashok Kumar, Leela Chitnis, Raj Kapoor, Mehmood, Madhubala and Dilip Kumar.
- 5/7/2012
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
“Ali Zafar to receive Dadasaheb Phalke academy awards on May 3”, goes a headline from the Economic Times website. Hindustan Times reported, ““Ali Zafar to receive Dadasaheb Phalke academy awards”.
Interestingly, media also reported that Ali Zafar was being awarded the 143rd Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award.
Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee, if he ever read these reports, would have had his share of laughter. Chatterjee happens to be the 43rd recipient of the official Dadasaheb Phalke awards, the highest in the field of cinema, given every year since 1969 by the government of India.
So May 3rd, 2012 witnessed two Dadasaheb Award ceremonies in this country. One in New Delhi, where the 43rd Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred upon the legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee by the Vice President of India.
Ali Zafar
Another was held in a “sub urban five star hotel”, as reported by the Times of India, attended by Bollywood glitterati. Funnily,...
Interestingly, media also reported that Ali Zafar was being awarded the 143rd Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award.
Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee, if he ever read these reports, would have had his share of laughter. Chatterjee happens to be the 43rd recipient of the official Dadasaheb Phalke awards, the highest in the field of cinema, given every year since 1969 by the government of India.
So May 3rd, 2012 witnessed two Dadasaheb Award ceremonies in this country. One in New Delhi, where the 43rd Dadasaheb Phalke Award was conferred upon the legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee by the Vice President of India.
Ali Zafar
Another was held in a “sub urban five star hotel”, as reported by the Times of India, attended by Bollywood glitterati. Funnily,...
- 5/5/2012
- by Bikas Mishra
- DearCinema.com
The script has changed in Bollywood in the last 60 years - the women are more worldly, the men more macho and the cinema itself more techno-savvy, almost as good as Hollywood, says veteran cinema writer and critic Bhaichand Patel..The women in Hindi cinema are more assertive though no less beautiful (than yesteryear ones), they often smoke on screen and they are equal to men. Mainstream cinema has been a good trend-setter for equality of gender - it is happening now,. Patel told us..The hero, however, has not changed as much as women though they - the crop represented by Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Amitabh Bachchan - are a little more physical and action-oriented than the early superstars like Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar..A former Un official, Patel studied filmmaking at New York University.His new book, Bollywood.s Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema launched Monday,...
- 3/28/2012
- Filmicafe
To mark the centenary of the Indian film industry falling May 3, 2012, a fitting tribute will be paid to its legendary founding father, Dhundiraj G. Phalke, famous as Dadasaheb Phalke, an official said here Friday.A full-size wax statue of Dadasaheb Phalke will be created and installed at the Celebrity Wax Museum (Cwm) in Lonavala, according to a trustee of the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed here late Thursday with Cwm.s managing director Sunil Kandalloor, commissioning the statue, which will be ready by May 3, the trustee said here.The occasion was to mark the 68th death anniversary of Dadasaheb Phalke yesterday at the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, in which a host of Bollywood personalities paid homage to the father of Indian cinema.Born on April 30, 1870, at Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik, Dadasaheb Phalke made his debut with India.s first full-length silent movie .Raja Harishchandra. in 1913.In a career spanning nearly 25 years,...
- 2/17/2012
- Filmicafe
Born to a Muslim fruit coppice owner, Dilip Kumar was originally named Muhammad Yusuf Khan. Hailing from Peshawar in present day Pakistan, young Muhammad and his family had shifted to Bombay. There his father did a lowly job of supplying dry fruits and dealt with the canteen business. It was by the help of the glamorous Devika Rani, by whose support Khan could get his entry into filmdom. The Hindi writer Bhagwati Charan Verma suggested Muhammad to change his screen name to Dilip Kumar. He also offered him his first lead role in the 1944 matinee” Jwar Bhata”. Although his debut film was not a commercial success, his first genui...
- 12/11/2011
- Bollywoodmantra.com
New Delhi, Dec 11: Dilip Kumar celebrated his 89th birthday Sunday and celebrities like Deep Mehta, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar wished him and showered praise on the legend.
Bollywood took to twitter to express its love and fondness for the thespian, known for his memorable performances in 'Amar', 'Madhumati', 'Devdas', 'Shaheed', 'Leader', 'Daag', 'Naya Daur' and 'Mughal-e-Azam'.
This is what the celebs have to say about Peshawar, now in Punjab, born Yusuf Khan, who was introduced to the Hindi film industry as Dilip Kumar by Devika Rani.
Deepa Mehta: Many Happy Returns Dilip Saheb. You made me cry in 'Andaz',.
Bollywood took to twitter to express its love and fondness for the thespian, known for his memorable performances in 'Amar', 'Madhumati', 'Devdas', 'Shaheed', 'Leader', 'Daag', 'Naya Daur' and 'Mughal-e-Azam'.
This is what the celebs have to say about Peshawar, now in Punjab, born Yusuf Khan, who was introduced to the Hindi film industry as Dilip Kumar by Devika Rani.
Deepa Mehta: Many Happy Returns Dilip Saheb. You made me cry in 'Andaz',.
- 12/11/2011
- by Diksha Singh
- RealBollywood.com
Dilip Kumar celebrated his 89th birthday Sunday and celebrities like Deep Mehta, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar wished him and showered praise on the legend.Bollywood took to twitter to express its love and fondness for the thespian, known for his memorable performances in .Amar., .Madhumati., .Devdas., .Shaheed., .Leader., .Daag., .Naya Daur. and .Mughal-e-Azam..This is what the celebs have to say about Peshawar, now in Punjab, born Yusuf Khan, who was introduced to the Hindi film industry as Dilip Kumar by Devika Rani.Deepa Mehta: Many Happy Returns Dilip Saheb. You made me cry in .Andaz., laugh in .Leader., mesmerize me in .Gunga Jumuna. and then supported my .Fire. from ire.Boman Irani: A country proudly celebrates the birthday of its beloved son, Dilip Saab! Your grace, inspiration and genius makes us a prouder nation!Javed Akhtar: Saalgiraah mubaarak Dilip saheb. Sir, you are the ultimate.
- 12/11/2011
- Filmicafe
He was a shy man with average looks, definitely not the Bollywood type; yet destiny had other plans for Ashok Kumar who got into showbiz by chance and never looked back. As the late actor.s 100th birth anniversary dawns Thursday, film historians and fans remember the .Dadamoni. of Indian cinema.Born in a Bengali family Oct 13, 1911, he did his schooling from Presidency College in Kolkata, and graduated in sciences and law. Not quite starry-eyed, he came to Mumbai in 1936 in search of a job.He got the role of a lab assistant in the newly established Bombay Talkies. But one day film director Himanshu Rai was furious with the lead actor of his film who had vanished without informing him. On the spur of the moment, he laid his eyes on Ashok and wanted the man as the lead in his film .Jeevan Naiya...Ashok Kumar was compelled to join films.
- 10/12/2011
- Filmicafe
Of the many exhibits and shows at the Kalaghoda Arts Festival 2011, what caught one’s eye was the array of compendiums of posters, booklets and other visual material on cinema.
The exhibit was an effort to showcase the history of Indian cinema through some rare visuals- and rare, in the true sense of the term indeed. After all, not every day does one come across a picture of the first screen-test given by Dev Anand.
Similar surprises were a part of this collection by Mr. Arun Puranik. A private collector who is used as source by the National Film Archive of India at times, Mr. Puranik has a 40 year old collection of booklets, film song recordings, radio recordings, posters, showcards, lobby cards and photographs- all dating back to an era when the talkies had started.
Some rarities are photographs of the famous actresses Durga Khote, Nadia, Devika Rani, Sulochana, and...
The exhibit was an effort to showcase the history of Indian cinema through some rare visuals- and rare, in the true sense of the term indeed. After all, not every day does one come across a picture of the first screen-test given by Dev Anand.
Similar surprises were a part of this collection by Mr. Arun Puranik. A private collector who is used as source by the National Film Archive of India at times, Mr. Puranik has a 40 year old collection of booklets, film song recordings, radio recordings, posters, showcards, lobby cards and photographs- all dating back to an era when the talkies had started.
Some rarities are photographs of the famous actresses Durga Khote, Nadia, Devika Rani, Sulochana, and...
- 2/17/2011
- by Divya Naik
- DearCinema.com
It's a well known fact that Freedom Fighters, Prime Ministers, and dignitaries have been honored with postal stamps in India. But now breaking from tradition, six top film actresses from the previous generation have been honored with commemorative postage stamps in their names on Feb 13 (yesterday). Madhubala and Nargis, were the only actresses to have been bestowed with postal stamps in their names in the past. Now legends like Meena Kumari, Nutan, Leela Naidu, Devika Rani, Kanan Devi and Savithri Devi (who was better known as Meena Kumari of South India) have joined the likes of the evergreen beauties.
- 2/14/2011
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
It's a well known fact that Freedom Fighters, Prime Ministers, and dignitaries have been honored with postal stamps in India. But now breaking from tradition, six top film actresses from the previous generation have been honored with commemorative postage stamps in their names on Feb 13 (yesterday). Madhubala and Nargis, were the only actresses to have been bestowed with postal stamps in their names in the past. Now legends like Meena Kumari, Nutan, Leela Naidu, Devika Rani, Kanan Devi and Savithri Devi (who was better known as Meena Kumari of South India) have joined the likes of the evergreen beauties.
- 2/14/2011
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Six legendary actresses like Meena Kumari, Nutan, Kanan Devi, Devika Rani, Leela Naidu and Savitri Devi are being honoured with the issuance of postage stamps to coincide with the week-long Indipex 2011 Philately exhibition in the capital. This makes the total number of stamps on film personalities issues so far to just over twenty, even as the film industry is completing one hundred years of its existence next year.The first postage stamp to honour a film personality was i...
- 2/14/2011
- Bollywood Trade
Six legendary actresses like Meena Kumari, Nutan, Kanan Devi, Devika Rani, Leela Naidu and Savitri Devi are being honoured with the issuance of postage stamps to coincide with the week-long Indipex 2011 Philately exhibition in the capital. This makes the total number of stamps on film personalities issues so far to just over twenty, even as the film industry is completing one hundred years of its existence next year. The first postage stamp to honour a film personality was i...
- 2/12/2011
- GlamSham
NEW DELHI -- Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's 2007 Cannes Palme d'Or winner "4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days" will open the 38th annual International Film Festival of India in Goa being held Nov. 23-Dec. 3.
The IFFI is organized by New Delhi-based government body Directorate of Film Festivals and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with the Government of Goa. Organizers also said that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will inaugurate the festival.
The festival will close with Carlos Saura's Spanish-Portuguese musical "Fados" and will host an Ingmar Bergman retrospective, with screenings of classics like "Autumn Sonata" and "Fanny and Alexander" among others. The IFFI also will celebrate the birth centenary of "the first lady of the Indian screen," 1930s actress Devika Rani.
Details about festival jury members will be announced soon.
The IFFI is organized by New Delhi-based government body Directorate of Film Festivals and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with the Government of Goa. Organizers also said that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will inaugurate the festival.
The festival will close with Carlos Saura's Spanish-Portuguese musical "Fados" and will host an Ingmar Bergman retrospective, with screenings of classics like "Autumn Sonata" and "Fanny and Alexander" among others. The IFFI also will celebrate the birth centenary of "the first lady of the Indian screen," 1930s actress Devika Rani.
Details about festival jury members will be announced soon.
- 11/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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