Sunday, May 19, 2002		Feedback

The year of path-breaking films

APROPOS of the letter of Atul Sharma (May 5) pointing out certain discrepancies in my article "The year of path breaking films" (April 14), the observations of Mr Sharma that in film Mandi, it is not Sayeed Jaffrey but Kulbhushan Kharbanda who gets the kotha displaced, are wrong and factually incorrect. Succumbing to public pressure Sayeed Jaffrey as President of the municipality, approves a resolution directing the kotha head to move out of the limits of the municipality. Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Mr Gupta, accommodates the kotha in his building near the same town but outside the municipal limits. I am sorry that Satish Shah was mistakenly mentioned as Police Commissioner instead of Municipal Commissioner, in Jane Bhee Do Yaroon.

M.L. DHAWAN, Chandigarh

This refers to Jawahar Wattal’s write-up "The ring of cash is the music that matters" (April 21).

I agree with the writer that nowadays the music industry has become a huge money-making business. But, when he says that the winners of TVS Sa Re Ga Ma and Close Up Antakshari contests were not given what they are promised, it is not entirely true. The winners of a mega-final in Meri Awaz Suno hosted by Anu Kapoor and aired on Star Plus were promised that they would be given an opportunity to sing in a moive that was to be made by Yash Chopra. The movie called Humko Ishq Ne Mara was in fact, premiered on television and the winning contestants including the now well-known Sonali Vajpayee, sang for the movie.

The writer also writes that talent does not need programmes like the above. He should give this a second thought. Singer Sunidhi Chauhan whom he priases so much, was a winner on a Meri Awaz Suno mega-final and her talent was recognised only after this win. No wonder now she is one of the most wanted singers in the music industry. Such programmes provide an opportunity for the young to showcase their talent and I’m sure that if one is talented and hardworking, one will earn due recognition, whether promises made to are fulfilled or not.

PRABHJIT KAUR, Jalandhar

This refers to "Single but not fancy free" by Gurmeet Anand (April 28). Even though our society is progressing at a rapid pace, but women have still not been given their rightful due. No doubt, today many women have become self-reliant and independent, but they are still not considered equal to men. Marriage is still thought to be necessary for a woman even if she is independent and wants to live life on her own terms. I feel that is a woman wants to be single, she should not be pressurised to marry.

Harleen Kalsi, Ludhiana

Leading a single life means depriving oneself of the rare and pleasant experience of being complete. It is said that when sorrows are shared with others, their intensity is reduced and when joys are shared, their intensity is multiplied. As a single person does not have a suitable partner to share things with, his or her miseries appear to be more.

Anup K. Gakkhar, Jalandhar

Apropos of the article "A tribute to Dr M.S. Randhawa" by Jaspal Singh (April 28), I so not wish to comment on the personality to Dr Randhawa, but only wish to straighten the facts. After Partition, Dr Randhawa was appointed Deputy Director of Rehabilitation at Jalandhar. Dr Trilok Singh, ICS, was the Director General and he invented the Standard Measure which facilitated the measurement of the lands of East and West Punjab, an exercise on which depended the success of the rehabilitation process. Subsequently, Trilok Singh was chosen for the coveted post of Member Planning Commission of India. At that time other great ICS officers like Nakul Sen, B.R. Bhide, B.R. Tandon, M.R. Sachdev, Iqbal Nawab Singh, A.L. Fletcher and Gyan Singh Kahlon looked after the administration of East Punjab. M.R. Randhawa shone only after being made the Chief Commisioner of Chandigarh when the established the art gallery there.

R.S. Guleria, Kangra