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Soft corner...
He says he is nearing 60, but he doesn’t look a day more than 50. Sitting at the Mountview coffee shop on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, Suresh Wadkar in a beige cardigan and a jadau gold bracelet, talks in his soft voice. A measured conversation, where every word stems from a deep thought and an experience that dates back when he was four. He is visiting Chandigarh after 1969, and the singer is surprised to see the glaring changes. “It has become congested now. Earlier, it was much greener,” he says without making any effort to be audible. Suresh with his evergreen songs, Tum sey milkar (Parinda), Aye zindagi galey laga ley (Sadma), comes to Chandigarh as a celebrity chief guest for the entertaining night, Three Legends, a musical tribute to Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh. Legends are what the Bollywood music industry is filled with, and Suresh has had the privilege of working with the best. He is Lata Mangeshkar’s favourite singer. Rewinding notes
I feel honoured to have worked with the showman of Hindi cinema, Raj Kapoor. He had an amazing understanding of music. He loved his musicians, took good care of them, had great respect for everyone and was a good paymaster. This holds true for Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor who also had great understanding of music. In fact, how many of us would know that Dilip Kumar sings really well. He can sing a thumri! As far as Lata ji is concerned, if only I can achieve five per cent of what she is, I will be honoured.
Reality check
Reality shows don’t guarantee long-term success. They offer instant success, which doesn’t last long. These shows provide fame that generally comes by bypassing hard work. The sad part is that it doesn’t last long. The contestants are normally good, but they stop working on this art as soon as they receive fame.
Hard facts
Music is an on-going learning process, and riyaaz plays an important part. Singing is something that cannot be inherited or acquired in a day, it is like a well that has to be dug out every day. The younger generation does not have time for this. Check out the record books of any of the contestants, they would be booked on the weekend for a live performance.
Dying tradition
Guru-sishya is the most beautiful tradition that we have. I feel blessed that my gurus, Jia Lal Vasant chose me as his student. He believed in giving without asking for anything in return. I wanted to do the same thing and that is precisely the reason that I started music schools. They are not out of any need, they are set up so that people who have the inclination to learn, get help. My music academy Ajivasan gives students a proper understanding of music.
My biggest mistake
I invested money in a film that was never released. I think this was the biggest mistake of my life. I wanted to introduce my nephew, but it didn’t turn out the way it was planned. (Catch him at Bhargava Auditorium PGI on Sunday)
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One for the classes
Considered one of the greatest sitarist of the era, Shujaat Khan sits comfortable with his crown. In Chandigarh on Saturday to be part of Pinjore Heritage Festival, he comes across a humble, ordinary man who has reached the zenith and is easy with it!
Shujaat, the worthy successor of seven generations of illustrious classical musicians, opens up about his music and life…
It is a significant part of my life as much as are my wife, children, friends and more. Only that I do not own anyone, but music has been mine totally. And, I consider myself fortunate for it. It’s not any awards or honours that I am striving for now but to bring out some discoveries on the effect of season, daily life, connecting with people in everyday life on music. I owe all to listeners
We sing for you! Any person who gives 15 precious minutes of his life to listen to me has been instrumental in the success that I am a proud bearer of. I have seen great musicians not getting their due and I am grateful to God, my guru and my listeners. My space
It has been really challenging to come out of my legendary father’s Ustad Vilayat Khan’s overwhelming presence. It was difficult to start with. People don’t want to see you as an individual but Ustad Vilayat Khan’s son and carry on with comparisons. I am glad today the people who come to listen to me come for my sake, nothing else. Around the world
In my days of struggle, I have survived on pizza in America for three continuous months, and on Top Ramen before that. With age, it does get difficult. Now I like to travel in comfort, but travel I do, this is part of my profession. This is what I dreamt of in my younger days and I am living my dream. Passing on the legacy
My children are artistes in their own right. Daughter Fiza is a painter and graphic artist. Son Azaan is a good singer and guitarist. It’s composing that he is comfortable with and is exploring that! Not for masses…
I do 100 concerts a year, refuse 200, and this is my measure of success. I do listen to Fevicol Se. But my music is not for masses and I would rather have it this way. If I am able to engage some 400 listeners deeply in my concert, I am good!
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Confessions of Bolly shopaholics …
Most Bollywood actresses love shoes and bags. We tell you how and where they shop!
Priyanka Chopra: She likes it all: shoes, short dresses, jewellery, coloured hair and tattoos. She likes having bright streaks in her hair like purple and blue and does not mind cutting her hair short every now and then. She also has a belly-button piercing which is a diamond.
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Neil knocked out
There is some disappointment in store for Neil Nitin Mukesh. Bejoy Nambiar’s Hindi-Tamil bi-lingual David which was to feature Neil in both the languages would now have the actor only in Hindi. “There are three stories in David, one set in London in 1975 in black-and-white featuring Neil as a gangster. The second story features the Speedy Singhs actor Vinay Virmani in Hindi and Jeeva in Tamil as the respective protagonists of a plot set in Mumbai in 1999. And the third is a story set in Goa in 2010 featuring Tamil superstar Vikram with Tabu in both Hindi and Tamil. The Neil section was supposed to be common to both Hindi and Tamil. But now Neil’s section has been scrapped from the Tamil version,” says a source.
Bejoy Nambiar doesn’t deny these developments. “It’s true a decision has been taken to scrap Neil’s story from the Tamil version of David. Now the Tamil version of the film is shorter than the Hindi version. While the Hindi version would finally be approximately two hours and 30 minutes long the Tamil version is only 2 hours and 10 minutes long.” Explaining the “creative decision” to keep Neil out in Tamil, Bejoy says, “Neil was looking forward to his Tamil debut and he had worked hard on it. He has been a pillar of strength throughout the making of the film. But it can’t be helped. There are certain considerations. Now only the stories featuring Vikram and Jeeva are part of the Tamil version. Rather than think that Neil has been kept out of the Tamil version I’d rather think Neil is exclusive to the Hindi version.”
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The search for 24
Anil Kapoor who bought the rights of one of the most popular American television series, 24, is looking to launch new talent. It is to be directed by Abhinay Deo. Apart from Anil Kapoor and few chosen known faces they want most of the cast to be fresh.
Abhinay and Anil have already started with auditions. They are also scouting for locations where the TV series 24 will be shot. It will go on floors by end January – early February as soon as the cast and locations are finalised. Anil will be playing the iconic character of Jack Bauer, which is played by Kiefer Sutherland in the original. Colors channel has bought the broadcast rights for an Indian version of popular American action thriller television series 24 from actor Anil Kapoor in a deal pegged at around Rs 150 crore. Anil Kapoor has also played a cameo in the last season of the American show 24. The spokesperson for Abhinay Deo and Anil Kapoor says, "Yes it is true that Abhinay and Anil are looking to launch 30 new faces for the Indian version TV series 24.” In 24, Kiefer Sutherland plays special agent Jack Bauer, who works for the Los Angeles-based Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). Each episode has Jack racing against the clock.
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Bipasha Basu's birthday is on January 7. Her favourite flowers are white lilies. Every month a fan of hers sends her white lilies on the seventh day!
He knows everything about her and sends her flowers to make her smile, no matter what! That is sweet! |
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Censor problems
Sudhir Mishra's movie Inkaar's promo has been given an adult certificate by the Censor Board. The movie stars Arjun Rampal and Chitrangda Singh in steamy roles.
That is because of a line “Agar mein tumhare saath so jayungi to sab theek ho jayega?" The board wants "so jayungi" replaced with "adjust kar lungi." So the adult one will be played in the night and this regular one can be played all day.
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Katrina Kaif: She wears pretty boring metallic strappy sandals but she has a big shoe fetish and picks up shoes whenever she travels in various shapes and sizes! She collects shoes more than she wears them! She has no qualms repeating her shoes.
Deepika Padukone: She is a complete shoe person and has big feet at size 8! She buys shoes from abroad mostly because it is difficult to get her size over here. She likes plain yet blingy sandals. With her easy charm she can carry the plain look.
Sophie Choudry: She is one hot fashionista and owns more than 200 pairs of the trendiest shoes from classy brands and designers. She has them packed in boxes and neatly stacked in a wardrobe so she can wear whatever she likes easily.
