Sunday, February 22, 2004

TELEVISION
Music, masti & mouth-watering fare

Shaan Shining in feel-good show

HE should be excused if his favourite song is gaate hain Shaan se... Like India, Shaan too is shining. While the chart-busting Kuch To Hua Hai from Kal Ho Naa Ho is rocking movie countdowns, his album Aaksar is a foot-tapper amidst the chaos of remixes.

Now he’s gone and done what nobody thought he could—-made Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV such a big hit that he’s been asked to do a 14- episode round-the-world extravaganza. Which has made Shaan a much sought after anchor.

"I am enjoying the show but that doesn’t mean I’ll accept similar offers," says the ever-smiling Shaan, who has also done a cameo in Kalpana Lajmi’s Daaman. "I am waiting for something really exciting to happen." Singing, anchoring and acting. If that’s not exciting enough then what is?

Big frame beckons VJs

When the long-legged Malaika Arora did a Chhaiyya Chhaiyya with Shah Rukh Khan in Dil Se she started the era of VJs doing item numbers in films. But the talking heads now seem to be growing out of itsy-bitsy roles and look all set to grab meaty offers.

There’s a brigade of young and hot VJs out there flooding the main frame. Amrita Arora bagged lead roles in a few films, Purab Kohli was one of the leads in Supaari, Gaurav Kapoor did a Face-Off playing a bad man in SSHHH`85.

And now Club [V]’s Yudi is all set to make his debut as a boxer in Kittu Ghosh’s psychological thriller Chakravyuh. And mind you, he says, he isn’t just another hunk with a pretty face. And many more are following Yudi.

But why this sudden rush? Maria Goretti has an answer. "VJs have a very short shelf life. So it’s best to get whatever you can till the cameras are rolling. Otherwise, it may be too late." That explains why small-screen icons are looking to the big screen with such craving.

Power of one

While studying in a Kolkata school, she wanted to become a doctor. Later, she did a course in Mass Communications from Mumbai’s Sophia College. Then she graduated from the Indian Institute of Hotel Management. But this career too didn’t enthuse her.

When her exasperated parents asked her what she wanted to do, Mauli Ganguly’s answer was mildly shocking. "I want to try my hand at modelling." And for good measure she could have added acting as well.

And acting is what she’s done. She’s perhaps the only star to have built a fan following with just one show on air— Kaahin Kissi Roz on Star Plus.

"To keep the interest intact we needed to change the pace of the story. Shaina, the character I played, had to die and be replaced by lookalike Devika," says Mauli.

The replacement hasn’t affected her fan following. As Devika, she seems to have endeared herself to even more viewers. And she just wants to continue doing just one serial. One is surely not a lonely number for the petite Mauli.

Thought for food

Mealtime has never been so much fun for middle class India. When Sanjeev Kapoor began hosting Khana Khazana on Zee, little did he imagine he was opening the floodgates for a slew of cookery shows.

Foodies have now become star attractions on all channels. Mother of all chefs, Tarla Dalal, Madhur Jaffery, Sanjeev Kapoor and a host of other cookery specialists have been flitting in and out of the TV screens.

Now new-look DD too has joined the bandwagon with Pakwaan, Saturdays at 12 p.m. But like other shows on the National Network this too is a look-alike with neither innovation nor novelty.

But diehard cookery fans couldn’t care less. A food show is a food show. So, if you are a foodie, bring out your pen and paper and watch chef Krishna Reddy of a Mussorie hotel wave his magic wand in the kitchen.

Commanding century

It’s the time to disco for director Rajendra Mehra. And why not? Hukum Mere Aaka, his Indianised version of I Dream of Jeanie on Sahara Manoranjan,
weekdays 7.30 pm, has completed 100 episodes and ranks among the top three TRP grossers for
the channel.

The hilarious encounters between the nutty professor played by Tikku Talsania and the genie have created such chemistry with the viewers that the storywriter has introduced another genie named Chilly.

" The two genies will add a dash of humour in the coming episodes and the serial will be packed with special effects," says the director.

The genies sure seem to have worked their magic on the channel, which is asking Mehra to plan a few more comedy serials. And the director’s answer: Hukum Mere Aaka!

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