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HOW age and experience mould one’s attitude and mannerisms! On Kujh Pal Tere Naam this fortnight one came across two personalities that were a study in contrast. First it was Jazzy B, the archetypical new generation Punjabi NRI – as much at ease while crooning crossover numbers as singing shabads – self confident to the point of being brash yet inquisitive about his roots. The other was Mangal Dhillon – proud of his rustic upbringing and quick to admit that he was still evolving. And this man is a respected theatre and film personality. Talking of NRI Punjabis, one saw kids in Birmingham singing carols with chaste earnestness on Pardesan Vich Punjabi. Then there was Ramola Bachchan, the socialite sis-in-law of the Big B receiving the Asian Personality of the Year Award at a gathering in Birmingham which was lit up with the presence of the ageless Dev Anand. It was a treat to watch Dev Saab speak chaste Punjabi garnished with his famed diction and mannerisms. Bhagwant Mann on Dial-E-Punjab is a revelation. Although in Jugnu Mast Mast he does regale us with earthy humour while playing different characters, it is on D-E-P that he really impresses with his ready wit while responding to viewers phoning in to the live show. Another promising stand-up comedian is
Sudesh Lehri on Alpha Gaddi. He plays the rustic with as much
aplomb as he does the caricature of a city slicker. His recent
appearance as a transvestite on the show was superb. Carry on Lehri.
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