PICK OF THE MONTH

SASURAAL GENDA PHOOL with its crisp direction, intelligent scripting, simple dialogues and great performances. Perfect casting, except that suhana could do with a bit of better styling. Her garish sarees and loud make-up does nothing to enhance her looks. Her smile and great acting skills is what saves the day for her each time.
The cleverly done story telling is indeed a lesson in writing and telling a story. Each character has tremendous otential to be worked upon and can form a track of its own.
Supriya Pilgaonkar, however, easily stands out possessing an intensity that is a rare virtue found in an artiste on television today.... with each expression seeming a virtual sketch. Simply priceless!

GEET is another soap that began with an interesting storyline that went the usual filmy way.
The chemistry between the two lead actors, Drashti and Gurmeet however is well brought out. After ages, there seems to be one director who is doing his bit in bringing romance to television
Slow, languorous, lazy music set to passionate,, sly glances and teasing mannerisms that had become extinct with the regular dose of dramatics is now back.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

We talk of changes... of values, of tradition, of morals. Of fighting the growing corruption, of restoring a method to the madness around. And strangely when the onus is on the media, it acts irresponsibly. I refer to the television channels airing their usual programms on 15TH AUGUST.

From stupid, banal films like SANDWICH and WANTED to the disgusting reality shows like MEETHI CHURI etc, could they not have put aside their greed for raking in more ads and moolah and aired something sensible like say an UPKAAR, or SHAHEED or a talk show involving a discussion on the plusses of India. What the little kids watch on Independence Day today is a horror film or a daily soap, something that robs them of their innocence.

They know nothing of patriotism. They do know of suicides, of principals and teachers victimising students. They know of electronic gadgets and porn films. Its the adults around them- their families, who should choose the schools wisely, who need to understand the huge responsibility of providing to the society, a parasite or a joyous, proud and peaceful individual.

Lets do our bit and actually understand the term 'independence'.

ANGRY YOUNG MAN

Gurmeet Chowdhary is doing a great job as Maan Singh khurana in 'Geet- huyi sabse paraayi'...

His soft guy- next door looks have been done away with and in its place is the stern, tough, arrogant boss.... way to go, gurmeet!

Perfect casting and great work.

SARA KHAN

A little something that is worth applauding.

Sara Khan of Bidaai fame is definitely putting in that extra bit for her performance... her appearance. Sara makes great efforts to style herself. Her clothes, jewellery and accesories are carefully thought out.

Notice her look before marriage- simple salwar kameezes- an indication of the small town look.

Post marriage her sarees had a distinct look. Then when she seperated from her husband, her churidar kurtas had the simple yet stylish feel which lent that quiet dignity. Her jewellery is just right, complimenting her look, never outlandish.- right down to her make-up and nail piant

Now her simple cotton sarees as she sets up her own home is again commendable.
Good to see the interest and zest the young actors show in their work.
We will miss you Sara.

REALITY SHOWS

When the first ever music talent show was aired on television, it brought about a revolution in the world of music. Classical music was given a fresh lease of a and mparlife with more and more contestants understanding, accepting and following the form. The average viewer was subtly introduced to the intricacies of the Guru-shishya parampara and with the maestros of Classical music taking centerstage, judging a show brought to the fore, the humility and dedication of these legendary masters which was a huge influence on both the viewers and contestants.
Folk music bound together various communities and languages, dialects were appreciated and music lovers of all ages enrolled in institutions teaching serious music.
Today, however, just a few years down the line, its all about reality shows with judges being paid huge amounts to simply put down the contestant, bully him and create mock fights.
No one cares about how all this drama and power play affects young minds.
In fact the judges chosen are very often placed there more for their glamour quotient or simply because they happen to be in the news. What other justification is there for Vindoo dara Singh to judge a dance show for children alongwith the renowned choreographer Saroj Khan?
Can someone explain the need for disgusting expressions of the judges ? The way they humiliate, mock and tease the contestant who has stood for hours in the sweltering heat just to audition?
Do these artistes actually understand their art? do they respect it? Yet, its a vicious circle. The channels pay big money and in return expect more dramatics and a rise in the trps. The artistes realize this and are more than willing to oblige. The pressure is now on the contestants.
Often the pressure to perform well is so severe that he very charm and joy of the act is lost.
Sample this. A dance contest meant to simply have fun, display rhythm and grace is transformed into a battlefield with complicated dance styles and dangerous props like the fire is used making the viewer tense and feel its something he cannot ever connect with. Dance and music shows ought to make the viewer feel the connect immediately, something he would love to adopt.
The contestant is made to go through the entire drama and they emerge complicated, confused and connect stardom with loads of attitude and being difficult.
The big question here is-- what are we producing? and at what cost?
The generation today is more troubled and plagued with insecurities, fears and complexes. Hence the number of suicides and decaying minds seem to be steadily growing in number.
Responsibility, accountability and dignity is what the channel, the judges and the contestant needs to be aquainted with.

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA

Vivian Ashe leaves her pet chihuahua Chloe with her irresponsible niece Rachel to watch the dog. However, when Rachel decides to go to Mexico with her friends, Chloe gets lost and bonds with Delgado, a lonely German Shepard who used to be a police dog, and goes on the run from a ruthless Doberman called El Diablo. Meanwhile, Papi, a hyperactive chihuahua who falls in love with Chloe, attempts to find his love in Mexico while El Diablo attempts to capture Chloe and get her collar to his owner, a dognapper.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua is a must-see for all dog lovers. An adorable comedy, the film manages to engage one completely.

The film combines the themes of dignity and empowerment - "We are tiny, but we are mighty", says the leader of a vast Chihuahua pack - with a story of a spoiled rich canine who learns not to be so high and mighty.

It was a huge commercial sucess.

And what was most endearing were the written words by the producers in the end - that they wished for a loving home for all pets and all pet owners need to be aware of the commitment and love that comes with adopting pets.

So true and so very endearing.

UNDERSTANDING SOUND

I'm almost impelled to reinvent the term 'choreography'....Apalling is the way songs are choregraphed in cinema. Barring a few dancers who have developed the rare art of understanding and mastering the slick 'shiamak davar' style of dance, the rest need to understand what choreography really is...First, its never really about dancing. Sure, dance is one part of it but yes, certainly not the gyrating and pelvic thrusting kind of dance that is passed off as belly dancing. These are art forms that need to be respected independently... but why must we almost always have the usual attrocious mix of acrobatics and a distorted form of Indian dance which interprets no form? Dance is actually about being rhythmic... about truly relating to the sound and responding stylishly....its about being in sync with that sound and rhythm.... its about adding something to the song...beautifying it.. moving your body -letting it understand the sound and feel and allowing it to react.... then simply fine tuning that movement into something artistic and graceful. The body while dancing, should give the feel of a fluidity, a sense of liberation, a dignity and poise that can never be trained. When we dance, we surrender to the soul responding to the sound - a love for the sound... unspoken, untouched, raw and divine...Which is perhaps why Hrithik is always a delight to watch... he takes you to heights unexplored with his grace. No matter how complicated the movements maybe, yet his natural ease and dignity make it graceful and lyrical. However, choreography is not about dancing always.Its about depicting an emotion with subtlety. Using different things to interpret the emotion, the mood, about capturing the moment using music and sometimes simply the sounds of nature like the rains, rippling of the water in the river.... the gushing and whistling of the breeze....things need not be theatrical...they can be sensitive and quiet as well. Sometimes simply the echoing of distant birds in the silence. Music and choreography is to be used to capture a moment- enhancing it. 'Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga...' from '1942, a love story' is one such piece of choreography or the recent hrithik number 'dhoom again' in Dhoom 2 that is brilliant and artistically done...
Can we have more of such kind please?