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Eid ka Chand
Mujhe mil gaya bahana teree deed ka Mention the phrase Eid ka Chand and a precious image that comes to the mind is of the magnificent Madhubala running out into the open at night singing to the festive moon that has brought her a glimpse of her lover's face in Barsat ki Raat (1960). Eid ka Chand is a phrase used for sighting something very rare and beautiful after the long wait and fasting of Ramzan. It is common enough to say on meeting a long lost friend: "Tum to Eid ke Chand bann gaye ho!" The amazing lyricists who crafted the film songs gave a special place to this phrase as did Sahir Ludhianvi in the above-mentioned song that was given a brilliant musical score by Roshan. In another song Rajendra Krishan referred to the crescent moon with a difference. The beloved's face becomes the Eid ka Chand and seeing him is the festival itself. Set to a lilting tune by Madan Mohan in Jahanara (1964) the song was picturised on Mala Sinha and Bharat Bhushan: Shukriya ai huzoor aane ka waqt jaaga gharibkhane ka, Ik zamane ke badd deed hui, Eid se pehale meri Eid huyi.
The grand success of the K Asif's extravagant historical Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was followed by a spate of Muslim socials in the sixties. Sadhana cast her magic as the beauty behind a burqa in Mere Mehboob, Meena Kumari in Bahu Begum and Benazir, Waheeda Rehman in Palki, and Mala Sinha being the choice for Mere Huzoor. There were many more productions in genre. Calling these films nostalgic extravaganza, Urdu writer Javed Akhtar sees greater hope in present-day films like Rang de Basanti, Sarfarosh or Iqbal. He says: "I think, ultimately, Hindi cinema is moving in the right direction. The new films will have characters, who are not all evil and, thankfully, they are not all good. They reflect the secularism that society should look for and that Hindi cinema should reflect." Things change with time but the sixties will be remembered as the golden era of Muslim socials carefully worked like two inches of ivory when it came to depicting a culture.
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Director: Abhinav Kashyap Producers: Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora, Dhilin Mehta
Dabangg, which releases on Friday has been in the news for Salman Khan's lean and moustachioed look and amazing action sequences. The film will see the debut of Sonakshi Sinha, daughter of veteran actor and MP Shatrughan Sinha. Arbaaz Khan also debuts as a producer with his newly-launched Arbaaz Khan Productions. Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia are coming back together after a long gap. Dabangg primarily deals with unlawful practices in the state of UP and Bihar and the involvement of the police in it. Salman will deliver dialogues without his usual accent in the film. He will be seen as shaking a leg with his sister-in-law Malaika Arora in the item song Munni badnaam hui …. which is already a chartbuster. Abhinav Kashyap, scriptwriter of Manorama Six Feet Under and 13 B, directs the film. Sajid-Wajid and Lalit Pandit has composed the music. Watch Chulbal Pandey (Salman Khan) in theatres nearest you. — Dharam Pal
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Koffee break
How was it to face the camera for the first time? It was easy and I feel I was way too confident on my first day of the shoot. It was a shot in which I had to
walk past Salman Khan and then turn around and look at him. Dabangg is a male-oriented action film. And playing the lead role in such a film is not so easy. What do you say? Well, first the tag behind your name and secondly to play a lead role opposite Salman Khan! The script brought a huge responsibility on my shoulders to bring the best in my character. In order to live upto everyone's and my expectation as well I worked extremely well on my character and I gave my best. How did you land in Dabangg? The directors Arbaaz Khan and Abhinav Kashyap come to our house with the script of Dabangg and my parents convinced me that it was too good an opportunity to miss. Did you want to be an actor? No, the thought of becoming an actor did not cross my mind. I was very fat which never gave me confidence of becoming an actress. I have done fashion designing and use to walk ramps for designers. Are you fan of Salman Khan? I am not a fan but friend. He is a superstar and everyone in Bollywood would love to work with him. We are all family friends and my parents were happy to have sent me to work with the known family. Salman is much older than you. How did you will manage to bring the chemistry? Salman Khan is very handsome. He is getting younger by the day. In fact, I should be getting nervous in front of him. How would you describe yourself as an actor in the midst of successful actors and strugglers out there? That is a difficult question to answer. Well, without sounding too boastful, I feel I can act to the world's truest meaning, which makes me different from the crowd out. What kind of films are you looking at? My parents will look at the entire package, like the star cast, director and banner. —
Dharam Pal |
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Actor Akshay Kumar says his new tele show MasterChef India reminds him of the days when he worked as a cook in Thailand before tasting success in Bollywood.Akshay will be seen hosting and judging the culinary show on Star Plus beginning from October 16."Before I became an actor, I was working as a chef in Thailand. This was the only job that I managed to get there, and I loved cooking that time. This show takes me to back to my roots... reminds me of my past," Akshay said. The Khiladi was learning martial arts in that country while working as a chef before he took to acting, and his love for cooking is well-known."Cooking has fascinated me since I was 14. I like cooking. I cook whenever I am at home... may be once a week or once a month," said the actor, who turned 43 today.Talking about the show, Akshay said, "It will showcase different traditional Hindustani khaana. The show will provide a platform to acknowledge and encourage the culinary skills of passionate cooks and groom them to become professionals." The 43-year-old actor will be judging the show along with Chefs Kunal Kapoor and Ajay Chopra.The show intends to unearth the best cooking talent in the country from among 12 contestants who will be competing for the coveted title of Masterchef.
— PTI
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Clint Eastwood says that he was offered the roles of James Bond and Superman in his younger days. But he refused to don both the iconic tuxedo and the red cape.The 80-year-old actor and director said he was approached to take over as 007 after Sean Connery walked out on the role in 1967. At the time Eastwood was playing cowboys in spaghetti westerns such as The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. He said his then lawyer also represented the Broccolis, who produce the Bond franchise."He came and said, 'They would love to have you'. I was offered pretty good money to do James Bond if I would take on the role. But to me, well, that was somebody else's gig.That's Sean's deal. It didn't feel right for me to be doing it," said the Academy winning actor.When Eastwood turned down the role, the producers chose Australian actor George Lazenby as the new Bond. Mocked for his 'wooden' acting, he appeared in only one film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969.Connery, considered by many fans to be the best Bond, returned to the role in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever having been convinced by a bumper pay packet.Eastwood went on to achieve international stardom after winning the role of San Francisco detective Harry Callaghan in 1971's cult hit Dirty Harry.The Million Dollar Baby director said that he was considered for the role of Superman before the lead role in the 1978 blockbuster went to Christopher Reeve."This was when they first started to think about making it. I was like, 'Superman? Nah, nah, that's not for me'. Not that there's anything wrong with it. It's for somebody, but not me," said Eastwood.
— PTI
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The Academy Award nominated actor who will be on the cover of fashion bible Vogue's October issue said her brain does not work when she becomes skinny. "The thinnest I've ever been was after I had my appendix out, during the London run of The Seagull. I went down to 112 pounds and realised my brain doesn't work when I'm that thin, so I can't do my job," the actor said.The 25-year-old actor who is dating Transformers star Shia LaBeouf is a fan of the TV musical Glee but says that she is still not famous enough to land a cameo."I want to be in Glee, but I'm told I'm not famous enough to be a cameo yet," she said. As for her much talked about fashion sense, Mulligan said that she refuses to wear anything "above the knee, tight, girly, or ridiculous."
— PTI
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The wife of late Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi says that she continues to send text messages to her husband, who lost his battle to cancer last September.The 54-year-old who was married to the Dirty Dancing star for 34 years said that she is used to sending him text messages and continues the habit, reported People online."I still send him text messages. I just put what I always did, I love you. And then I cried for a little bit to myself," said Niemi who is observing the first death anniversary of her husband." It (text message) didn't come back. So either somewhere out there he received it, or someone's going, 'Somebody loves me!' And you know what? I figured it was a win-win situation," Niemi said. Swayze died due to pancreatic cancer on September 14 last year. Next week will be the first anniversary of the actor who gained heartthrob status with hits like Dirty Dancing and Ghost.
— PTI
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That’s like Eid!
A country like India doesn’t need a reason to rejoice or celebrate. Every ball that hits the stands calls for a party in the club; an outstanding report card is reason enough to call friends over and party; parents out for a week, is a sure-shot reason to party, a new job, first salary, first car (immaterial whether second hand or brand new)...we have reasons enough to celebrate. But these celebrations are not bound by any particular time, day or month.
And then come the official, religious celebrations. It still boils down to one thing - we love to celebrate, with or without a reason! With the passage of time, though, these celebrations have acquired different connotations. This Eid, people from the community share their thoughts on the changing face of celebrations. AA Siddiqui, former DGP, Punjab, highlights the two aspects of festivities. “The cultural celebrations are alike, people enjoy, they go out and celebrate. But when it comes to performing religious ceremonies, they haven’t changed, and you can’t change them either.” Having said this, Siddiqui also feels that the world is evolving and so is religion. “With regards to the cultural celebrations of Eid, I have seen some changes off late. In our time, we used to only visit our friends’ house, but now people go out for a movie, there are different varieties of sivaiyan available in the market now. They spend more on this day, largely due to an increase in spending capacity of people.” Siddiqui is celebrating Eid with his grandchildren in Delhi. The bottom line is to enjoy, celebrate the occasion in whatever way you can! There is no harm in splurging on Eid, as long as you want it this way. Mujeeb Husain, a painter residing in Shimla, has been celebrating Eid his his own sweet way. After the morning namaaz, Mujeeb sets out to distribute sweets to children, known or unknown. He then sits down to paint, and thereafter gifts that painting to just about anyone he feels like. He goes to collect a particular style of sivaiyan from the Lower Bazaar in Shimla, prepares them and then invites all his friends from whatever background they are to come and have a feast. “This is my way to thank god for making me what I am, giving me the capability to help others in whichever way I can. I never miss out on my prayers, I believe Eid is like a reward.” If the sentiments are respected, the style of celebrations, the money spent, the new outfits worn, the dishes prepared in different styles… don’t matter much! jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Our common wealth
Booze is cheaper at the capitol’s duty-free shop as compared to anywhere else in the world! Joyshri Lobo At last! After a two-month sojourn Down Under, we are back on Bharatiya soil. From the air, Delhi looks deluged, its earthen bastions jostled and shifted by huge swathes of water, showered down by angry cloudbursts. The tarmac is glistening and clean, the endless travelators working, the spotless carpets waiting for guests to the Commonwealth Games. I have finally conquered my fear of escalators and have not rolled down even once during this trip. That is a gloating point over the previous three falls. Booze is cheaper at the capitol’s duty-free shop as compared to anywhere else in the world. There will be much cheering at the CWG. At the carousel, the uniformed helpers look as sullen as the weather outside. An elderly lady incarcerated to a wheel chair, wants assistance to get her suitcases off the carousel and into a trolley. The helpers seem deaf, as do their supervisors. Finally, one of the passengers orders the helper who grumpily moves across. He does not see too much largesse from the crippled woman. The CWG crowd will be better. I turn my eyes away for a second from the two bags that hold our precious quota of Scotch. A harassed looking co-traveller warns me that a foreigner has just lost his bag of liquid, as he scanned the visitors’ gallery, seeking a familiar face or cardboard name flag. I quickly pick up my bags and hold them close to my chest. I do not want to share my golden booty with the common man, even though my actions are unpatriotic. We scramble into a bus headed towards the domestic terminal. It is crowded and as I walk towards the platform over the back wheels, a portly sardar offers me the seat next to his. He then holds out a packet. I take a cashew nut but he insists I help myself to more. His English is faultless and he has mistaken me for a foreigner. I speak to him in Punjabi and set the score right. He laughs delightedly and waves a friendly hand towards his companions across the isle. They give me more nuts. They introduce themselves as raagis, returning from a kirtan in Mumbai. I smile as I think of their golden voices. This is our common wealth. As we drive out, there are hundreds of labourers planting exotic, flowering plants on the verges. The rain will help them take root and they are beautiful. A little further, cranes stand mournfully over sodden sand. Work has come to a standstill and the weather forecasters promise more rain well into October. Plastic bags lie in every dip and drain in the ground. I am sure the recycling department will be able to use them within the next 20 days. This is our strength. We can make use of anything and everything. There are a number of children squatting by the side of the road. Obviously, their parents are working to make Delhi beautiful for the visitors. Obviously too, the daily poo is going to be used for the plants that are inching their way along the same route. As we land in Chandigarh, I get a message giving the name and mobile number of our taxi driver from Mega Cabs. The man is waiting at the gate and smilingly helps us into the gari. I pick up the newspaper lying on the seat. It reports that Mega Cab Radio Taxis might have to shut down as the state is dilly-dallying over waiting charges. I hope this does not happen as this is one of the most efficient, user friendly, private transport systems at Chandigarh. Maybe it is time to allow our wealth to trickle down to the common, private man and woman. Such a change would ensure great success for national events.
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One for the girls!
Post Munde UK De, it’s Ik Kudi Punjab Di from team Manmohan Singh. Looks like they chose the perfect platform for promotion, a girl’s college that is! The director makes it with Amrinder Gill, Jaspinder Cheema, Gugu Gill, Gurpreet Ghugi, Deep Dhillon, Surinder Sharma, Darshan Aulakh in tow… almost the entire cast and crew of the soon to be released Punjabi film, goes beyond the photograph session, autograph signing spree and takes to the stage, one by one, at the MCM DAV College on Thursday. One of the poster boys of the trailer, the curly, long-haired actor Aman Dhaliwal chips in his bit, “I had heard a lot about the girls here, but got to meet them today.” There’s a run and re-run of the trailer, the girls go into frenzy, the noise of the clipping drowned in the din of the girls…beyond the overdose of mutual thanks giving and ‘do watch the movie’, here’s what the prominent faces had to say. Seriously Funny
Enter Gurpreet Ghuggi with his trademark sarcasm. “Munde UK De, Ik Kudi Punjab Di, very soon we’ll have matrimonials on these lines.” He adds, “The movie has a serious message, it’s themed on the equality for girls against the backdrop of female foeticide, which is rampant in the state… If the ratios continue to drown this way, very soon, it’ll be Ik Vi Ni Kudi Punjab Di.” Perhaps, humour brings home the seriousness of the issue. A Punjabi singer and a Punjabi comedian seem to be a staple of all productions; what role does he play in the movie? “People so far only associate me with comic roles and cameos, but this is for the first time that I’ve gone beyond this genre and done a serious and emotional role at this scale. Hope it’s received well.” Nevertheless, at the venue it was no escaping the repeated requests for a comic jig, a one-minute act! Second turn
Did he turn the auditorium of excited girls into a mob? Amrinder Gill, the famous crooner, takes to the stage and there’s no stopping the audience. “The movie has a message for the youth, especially the girls….” Post the promotional dialogues, the star singer does what he’s expected to do; after singing a couple of hits, title track of the movie itself, with ‘once more’ requests still resonating in the hall, the singer is reluctantly let off the stage. In any case, here’s saying what everybody kept repeating ‘September 17 at theatres near you’. manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Simple tricks!
Magic has its own magic! Pulling rabbits out of a hat, card tricks, making a girl float in the air or converting her into a cat or a pigeon; driving a motorcycle blindfolded…simple magic tricks, simply amazing effect! And when it’s Samrat Shankar, better call him Jaadugar Samrat Shankar for the desired effect, the deal gets better. One of the pioneers of Indian magic tricks, Shankar will be opening his week-long show in Panchkula for the first time. And in his kitty are the most daring, dazzling tricks, with a dash of entertainment and assured claps and cheers. “Magic has always been something larger than life in India. From simple tricks to creating illusions, the masses like to be entertained,” says the 60-year-old magician. In business for over three decades now, 36 years to be precise, Samrat Shankar got motivated at the age of twelve, watching the famous Dev Kumar. He trained under the legendary PC Sorcar and then started with his own performances. “I have done more than 28,000 shows in India and abroad, out of which 22,000 shows have been done for charity. The earnings from my show in Panchkula will go to the Chief Minister’s relief fund and be used for helping the needy,” he says. Samrat defines magic as an elaborate art of hitting people impromptu with your tricks. “Magic is 75 per cent tricks and 25 per cent mass hypnotism. It’s all about concentration.” That he attains with yoga and meditation everyday. “My most famous tricks like Indrajaal and cutting the body into two halves work on the same principle,” he adds. But all his famous acts are not complete without a staff of 70 apprentices and two truckloads of equipment! Now, for all those who think magic in terms of David Blaine or Cris Angel, here’s a newsflash. The Great Indian Rope trick is what the world likes. Take it from the master himself: “Magic has evolved with time, with logic defying illusions and street magic, but having performed in over 10 countries now, the foreign audience still likes the Indian Rope tricks. I recently performed at London and the audience was fully entertained and charmed by them,” he informs. But he hopes things get better back home. “Though audience is there, it is not the same as before. Kids now like to watch television or use the computer rather than going for a magic show. One has to add more glamour such as music and dances to entertain, rather than just magic. So, it becomes a little difficult at times.” Apart from the façade, lack of good magicians in India is the reason why magic shows are losing out on audience. “We do have youngsters learning the art but with no support from the government or the sponsors, they are not able to pursue it for long.” Can reality shows like India’s Magic Star help? “Of course. I have been following the show and liked the contestants. Maybe a dose of reality can recreate the magic.” nehawalia@tribunemail.com
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Moves for a muse
If watching Malaika Arora Khan gyrating to Munni Badnaam Hui makes one doubt the aesthetic sensibility of present-day filmmakers, then it's time to travel back in time to find our tryst with dancing girls as an objet d'art.
And trust us, dancing girls have found their way in art and sit pretty with all the importance — be it painting, sculpture, photographs and films. What has changed over the centuries is, perhaps, the nomenclature as far as celluloid is concerned. Now, dancing girls have become item girls. But then, that's a different story. Tracing the history, one of the most popular dancing girls is a 10.8 cm long bronze statue found in Mohenjodaro, which is some 4,500 years old. Found in 1926 from a house in Mohenjodaro, the statue caught art lovers' fancy when British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler said it was one of his favourite on a TV programme, way back in 1973. "There is her little Baluchi style face with pouting lips and insolent look in the eyes. She's about 15 years old I should think, not more, but she stands there with bangles all the way up her arm and nothing else on. A girl perfectly, for the moment, perfectly confident of herself and the world. There's nothing like her, I think, in the world," he had described.
Under the Mughals, Indian dance forms got a new dimension; it was the period when dance became associated with entertainment than a ritual in temples. "From times immemorial, Indian poets have sung praises of the 'public woman', the professional entertainer. The epics give us a colourful description of her intimate connection with royal splendour. The Puranas highlight her auspicious presence as a symbol of good luck. Buddhist literature also testifies to the high esteem in which she was held in society. She appears through the ages in different incarnations from apsara in divine form to ganika, devdasi, nartaki, kanchani, tawaif and the nautch girl," mentions Pran Neville in his book Nautch Girls of the Raj. So, it comes as no surprise that dancing girls who embody all the elements 'good, bad, ugly, beautiful and spiritual', have been an irresistible muse for any artist worth his salt. Says Diwan Manna, ace photographer of the city, who has captured almost all contemporary Indian classical dancing queens, right from Sitara Devi, Sonal Mansingh, Kelucharan Mahaptra, Bharati Shivaji, Raja Radha Reddy to Malavika Sarukai, "Dance is the only performing art in which the entire body is used, uniting with the mind and soul to perfection. Watching a performance brings the giver and the recipient to oneness, at the same time it gives ample scope to a photographer to experiment with various elements." And those various elements for Diwan includes rhythm, facial expression, body language, make-up, dresses and texture that comes from lighting. Diwan's inspiration is the sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora caves. "When I saw the sculptures, I marvelled at the originality of the artistes who captured the concept of Indian beauty with their imagination —a voluptuous body with narrow waist. Going by anthropological evidence, I do not think Indian woman at that time had that kind of hourglass figures. That's where art came in, for art is not just replicating something but recreating it," he explains. The dancing figures of Ajanta and Ellora have influenced another city-based artist, Madan Lal, to execute a complete series of paintings called Dance Within. His figurative and semi-figurative dancing girls have similar meditative eyes and lotus hands as those seen in cave paintings. "I have painted dance as a celebration of life and hence thrown in a lot of natural elements," says Madan whose last show at Delhi Habitat Centre; was based on the same series Dance Within. Going by Diwan's frames and Madan's canvas or even for that matter the dress code and rustic ambience of item numbers like Beedi Jaliyele or Munni Badnam Hui, one can conclude that it is the Indian sensibility that still rules when it comes to dancing divas! parbina@tribunemail.com
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Art of empowerment
Speaking at a function organised here last night, Sarabhai said, the government should work towards making arts a potent language for empowerment."The government must wake up to the effectiveness of this language if it is serious about bringing in the marginalised into the social mainstream," she said.Sarabhai also shared with the audience the work being done by her academy, Darpan. — PTI |
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For friends' sake
"In today's world relationship is losing meaning. 'Innocent' friendship is fast dying. Through my novel I wanted to emphasise that friends are pillars of your life, they are the ones on whom you can rely in times of need," shares Ramya over the phone from Delhi. Aimed at youth and published by Divyansh Publications, We'll Be Around Honey revolves around four characters — Riya, Niharika, Fiza and Shivani. It takes one through their journey of life. "The novel is divided into three stages. The first stage covers teenage and revolves around their school life. The second speaks about their youth and the problems of growing years. The final stage talks about the different trials and tribulations they face. It is their support for each other that helps them deal with situations bravely and they learn the new meaning of relationships," says
Ramya. An ardent reader of Margaret Mitchell, Charles Dickens and Dan Brown, Ramya revers Brown the most. "I am amazed at the kind of research Brown does for each of his works," she says. Born and brought up in Bareilly, UP, Ramya has worked in the corporate sector. She is also a regular contributor to Hindi magazines. But for her fiction, she chose English. "People equate Hindi literature either with very intellectual stuff or with second-rate stuff. I wanted to aim my work at the masses. I am glad that my novel is getting a good response even in smaller cities of India," she says. Ramya loves travelling and has fond memories of Chandigarh where few of her close friends reside. "Chandigarh is very well developed and I just love Sector 17. It's the best place to shop, I believe," she shares. As for India picking up 'bubblegum' literature trend, Ramya is only thankful. "Thanks to this trend, at least Indians are going back to books. As for her next project, Ramya is not ready to spill the beans as of now. "It's going be in a lighter vein is all I can share," she signs off. mona@tribunemail.com
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Prestigious Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) in New York will transform into a "peace lab" on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday falling on October 2 to commemorate International Day of Non-Violence. According to RMA, a "peace lab" is a place that offers opportunities for observation, practice, and experimentation with actions and ideas of peace. The RMA's peace lab will feature art, crafts, tours, live music, and more ways to experiment with the ways our bodies see, feel, smell, hear, and taste peace in the world around us. Noted Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed says that peace icon Mahatma Gandhi is being rediscovered in the world and many people globally revere him as one of the greatest moral, political, and peace leaders of the 20th century.
— PTI
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India shining
A joint exhibition by two renowned Indian artists has impressed art lovers of London and attracted critical acclaim.The exhibition of Naresh Kapuria and Arshi Ahmed was showcased at the Nehru Centre here, and Monika Mohta, director of the centre, described the art works as "unique" and "outstanding". Kapuria, who has been awarded with the Chevalier de' arts and letters by the French government, one of the highest recognitions in the field of art, has worked across performing and visual arts to create an idiom that is unique as it is remarkable for the sheer range he brings to it, seeing art as a composite whole. Alka Raghuvanshi, the Curator, described Kapuria as "one of the most creative artists from India, whose understanding of the arts spans diverse disciplines". He is the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Romanian government, the Order of the Crown from the Government of Belgium, the Charles Wallace Trust award and the Triennale of India award. He has over 40 years of experience in the field using different mediums and has designed several Festivals of India abroad.For this show, Kapuria worked in brunt wood, to focus on small-sized works featuring heads as a paean to the unsung emperors who have lived life on their terms to tread untrodden paths and taken the roads less travelled to return and bring to the world a completely new dimension.A distinguished name in the world of art, Arshi Ahmed calls herself a child who is learning how to walk. "The world of art is enormous and magnificent, I am amazed by the fact that there is so much to learn and live," Ahmed said. Making a mark with creativity on canvas, Arshi honed her skills at the Art School of Cairo, Egypt. She showcased her skills by curating a unique art show by bringing under one roof the work of 93 renowned artists of Delhi in the umbrella show."Reel of Life which portrayed the art of cinema on canvas, wildlife theme based Save The Jungle for Menaka Gandhi, spreading a global message Say No To Plastic Bags, and Art For A Sunnier Tomorrow which brought light into lives of many underprivileged children, Bhimbhetka, painting the walls in the Surajkund Craft Fair for the Madhya Pradesh Government, curating Vrindavan Mahotsav are some examples which created a furore among the art lovers," Monika Mohta said. — PTI
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Indeed the cinema of the sixties saw a grand celebration of the Muslim socials, which waned in the seventies. In fact, from the 40s itself historical themes of the Mughal Raj that was known till the advent of Aurangzeb as secular as opposed to the divisive British colonialism. Sohrab Modi made Pukar way back in 1939 and it was based on Mughal emperor Jehangir's famed justice. The great divide of Partition benumbed the film industry too. For several years no film was made in which the protagonist was a Muslim. It was Modi who took the first step by making Mirza Ghalib (1954). It showcased the poetry of the best-loved Urdu poet of the sub-continent and was set to music by Ghulam Mohammad. The Ghalib ghazals rendered by Surayia and Talat Mehmood, picturised Bharat Bhushan and Suraiya, are popular till date. Guru Dutt's Chaudvin ka Chand (1959) brought in the era of the Muslim socials which, according to film critic Iqbal Masood, were marked by "An essential element was the elegance of speech and surroundings which became a marked feature of the Muslim social." 
Many of the yesteryear heroines of Bollywood came from Muslim families but were required to take on Hindu or ambiguous names that would not identify them with any religion. Thus the screen name for Mumtaz Begum Jehan Dehlavi became
Madhubala, Mahjabeen Bano got her fame as Meena Kumari, Fatima Rashid became Nargis and Nawab Bano took on the name of Nimmi. 
Film: Dabangg
Cast: Salman Khan, Sonu Sood, Arbaaz Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia 
The 22-year-old Sonakshi Sinha, Poonam's and Shatrughan Sinha's daughter is yet another star kid who is at the threshold of her career. She makes her debut in Dabangg produced by Arbaaz Khan and directed by another debutant Abinav Kashyap opposite Salman Khan. The youngest in the Sinha family sounds super confident about the film. She talks about the film, her parents and on being an actor.
She is one of Hollywood's rising young stars but actor Carey Mulligan refuses to conform to the industry's thin
ideal.
Change is a way of life; while some adapt to it readily others have their own inhibitions, supported by various reasons. Mansur Ali, lawyer in High Court, shares the core meaning behind the day and what calls for the celebrations. “Islam gives a chance to introspect; we go on without food and water, which helps us understand its value. As a reward, comes in the celebrations of Eid,” he explains. This being the religious side of it, we see what’s in store on the cultural front. “The idea of the celebration is showing and expressing joy, but it is nowhere written that we have to enjoy wearing new clothes. These are some notions which are set by the society.” 
Noted danseuse and social activist Mallika Sarabhai said arts can become a powerful language for empowerment."The arts have astonishing power. Attitudes are difficult to change as they are deeply entrenched. Lectures rarely change them. Telling people what is good for them rarely changes them. And that is where the potent language of art comes in," she
said.
In a world where brands one wears decides friends, Ramya Mishra Pandey in her debut novel We'll Be Around Honey, makes 'friendship' the peg.
Like any other author, Ramya's first work is heavily inspired from her own life. "I will say the setting is real but the incidents are fictional," she shares.