Mogambo khush hua. In this age of manifest evil, it is difficult to convey the shiver that went down every spine when Amrish Puri uttered those immortal words in 1987′s Mr. India. After Amjad Khan’s Gabbar Singh, Mogambo is probably Indian cinema’s most memorable evil man. And deservedly so. The one-time employee of the Ministry of Labour, who cut his teeth on the theatre of Satyadev Dubey (he would be the “safe guy” who would drop all the heroines home in his motorcycle with a side car), became a must-have for every film in search of a villain. It could be the maniacal Kali worshipper in Steven Spielberg’s kitschy Temple of Doom in 1984 or the authoritarian father in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in 1995. The 72-year-old actor was seen little of late; a comment on cinema as much as society, where ends can triumph over means and what is villainous is debatable. Brother of actor Madan Puri, another celebrated villain. Puri’s trademark hat and deep baritone marked him out as a character. But unlike other screen villains, he infused so much dignity to evil that the person was never confused with the part. Subhash Ghai, who worked with him often in a 25-year career, remembers how he was upset when Puri could not keep his date with him for the first schedule of Kisna. It was only later that he found out that Puri, who would always stand up and be counted for the film industry, had blood cancer. “But even then the will to live and the will to work was very strong,” he says. Govind Nihalani, whose association with Puri goes back to when he was lighting director and Puri the lead actor, recalls how he would stride across the stage, tall and imposing. “He was like my elder brother,” says Nihalani. He will miss him. So will Indian cinema. Bookmark: del.icio.us Reddit Digg Furl NewsVine Spurl StumbleUpon
Archive for September, 2007
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The smiles are back
September 17th, 2007 
Deepak The smiles that were missing during Greg’s (former Indian coach Greg Chappell) era are back. Extreme euphoria can be a manifestation of an inferiority complex. Now that we have won a Test series in England, and celebrated enough, it is time to look ahead and not just gloat over an achievement whose true significance only the future can tell. We have some really tough Test series ahead, the one against Pakistan at home and then Australia in Australia. Both, especially the one in Australia, will test us to the extreme. If we withstand the onslaught of pressure and match a team which combines outstanding skill and the confidence of losing rarely, then we can say this Indian team is a world-beating side. The manner in which India played the last two Tests, does suggest that the severe loss of confidence and faith in their own ability that Greg Chappell’s methods had installed in the players is a story of -the past now. The smile that Chappell had managed to wipe off Indian faces is back and the so-called “divisive” seniors have not only played a major role in this win but also seem to be jelling well with the juniors. After having watched India’s world cup campaign, where the players were so insecure that even an innocent glance could be interpreted as a sinister plot being hatched to overthrow the captain-coach combine, England has come as a breath of fresh air. No wonder then that most of the players feel free “to be” without the fear of being accused of being disruptive. Dravid can now afford to relax and not worry about “threats” to his captaincy. The “enemies” are now “friends” and it is to be hoped that it remains so for some time to come. What, though, should now be of some concern to Dravid is his batting form. The perfectionist that he is, Dravid must be almost embarrassed by the batting display he put up in the final innings of the Oval Test. The master of technique, and the team man to the core, was struggling to put bat to the ball, at a time when India required quick runs to justify his decision not to enforce a follow-on. The follow-on debate will go on and on, but after having decided to bat again, India needed to score quick runs so that instead of the 110 overs they [...]
The Foreign Trap
September 15th, 2007 Deepak A World Tourism Organisation study reports that India is the seventh largest country in the world with a population of 1,095 million, which accounts for 16.7 per cent of the world population. There are reportedly over 28 million passport holders in India and 25 million non-resident Indians living in 110 countries abroad, which constitute the largest segment of overseas population of any country. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which is committed to combating human trafficking globally estimates that about two million migrants cross international borders without authorization every year. According to an Interpol study – Project Marco Polo, India is one of the countries accounting for the largest number of illegal immigrants coming to Western Europe. No doubt, UNODC is commissioning a full-fledged study on the nature and extent of illegal migration from Punjab to Europe. A multi-million dollar racket in which $20,000-30,000 are charged by unscrupulous agents to send gullible Punjabis abroad continues unabated. There is no dearth of candidates willing to spend Rs 10 to 25 lakh to reach Europe or America via the illegal route. Three startling examples as follows reveal it all. In 1996, in the Malta Boat tragedy; 289 South Asians, Including 170 Indians from Punjab, found a watery grave in the Ionian Sea in their treacherous voyage of illegal immigration to Europe. UNODC recently quoted the Indian American Centre for Political Awareness in the US to inform that 73 men from Punjab who were duped by employment agents landed in a gurdwara in Tehran after a 1,500-mile journey on foot. Some were so badly frostbitten that their toes had to be amputated. A recent media report highlighted that on June 24 this year, the Delhi Police arrested one Bhupinder Singh with fake visas and passports. Upon questioning, it transpired that he was on his way to Punjab for delivering 300 fake travel documents, including 25 forged passports, 114 fake Visas of Schengen countries, which included seven each of UK, Slovenia, Malaysia and Switzerland, 12 of Korea, three each of Japan and Mexico, 25 of US and nine of Senegal were seized by the police. Why is illegal migration preferred to the right way? What prompts adoption of the wrong path? Who aids and abets it? Why is it repeated unflinchingly without abandon? Why do horror stories not deter fellow countrymen? Why do not the mindsets of rural folk change? Why [...]
BUSINESS: Starting Smart
September 14th, 2007 Deepak Beginning a business is never simple. Making an out-of-the box idea to work is an even bigger challenge. It all started out with an idea. A vague concept that many a business stalwart would cock their eyebrows at. In a country where business has traditionally originated in match-box-sized family workstations and grown into hereditary goldmines, the out-of-the-box, fledgling enterprise has gradually burrowed its way to the surface. “Innovative enterprises have always existed in the developed markets, they now need to be given an Indian structure,” says a CEO, of an organisation which mentors budding entrepreneurs and has about 50 start-ups, across Mumbai, under its wing. Wire money online to India with Xoom.com for as low as $4.99. Veterinary Assistant and an MBA believe that having a unique selling proposition was “the strongest point” of their new start-up. However, a signboard that read Poodle manicures and Labrador haircut initially met with many a raised eyebrow. “It’s not like we opened up and had people streaming in. There were days when we would have just one to two clients,” she reveals. Five years on, the entrepreneurs have seen business at Tailwaggers triple. And bouquets have now replaced the initial brickbats. “We even have customers sending us flowers as recognition for giving their dog a good haircut”. However, no matter how uncanny the idea, it’s “the clarity of thought” that is the differentiator. When 34-yearold marketing executive Bhavna Jasra stumbled upon a unique concept of freezing life’s milestones, she knew she had hit upon a goldmine. “I knew that in India, the strong family ties and fondness for festivities would help the concept catch on,” says Jasra. Jasra’s company, First Impressions, moulds special memories for its clients by framing impressions of hands and feet in gold, silver, bronze and even pearl. Although it was a first of its kind in the country, business growth was gradual in the first year. However, it was Jasra’s confidence in her product that kept the cash registers ringing, “It’s important to be focused and tailor your strategies to a definite target group,” she says. Five years on, her business has doubled with the client list boasting the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Haseena Jethmalani and the who’s who of Bollywood. One year ago, British Chartered Accountant Christopher Way and hotelier Krishna Pujari kicked their jobs to start a city based tour company. However, the Reality Tours itinerary was [...]
The Indian Shuttler: Anup Sridhar
September 9th, 2007 Deepak The Indian Shuttler: Anup Sridhar ANUP SRIDHAR’S inability to keep his nerves in a tight decider has been a constant concern in the past. So much so that his coaches following the match on the net at the Prakash Padukone academy in Bangalore felt that everything was lost once the Indian conceded a tight second game to former champion Taufik Hidayat in the second round of the Proton World Badminton championship in Kuala Lumpur. But the world number 41 was determined to prove his detractors wrong and came back from the brink with an all out attacking strategy to beat the eight seed Indonesian 21-14, 24-26, 22-20 in one hour and 13 minutes and advance to the third round. The 24-year-old now had to face the winner of the match between 13th seed Mohammad Hafiz B Hashim of Malaysia and Scott Evans of Ireland. “Yes, I used to choke in the decider and have lost many matches like that. But now I feel the results have started to come and that has done a world of good to my confidence,” said Sridhar, who had lost to the same opponent in the Asian Badminton championship semifinal in two close games. Earlier, National women’s champion Saina Nehwal celebrated India’s Independence Day with a 21-16, 21-10 thrashing of 13th seed Juliarre Schenk of Germany in just 26 minutes to set up a third round date with fourth seed Hongyong Pi of France. However, the day definitely belonged to Sridhar who accomplished an enthralling victory, after trailing 18-13 in the decider, over one of the most talented shuttler in the world. This was the third time meeting of the duo and on both earlier occasions, Hidayatl1ad got the better of the Indian. Anup adopted an attacking approach from the start and made the most of the wind inside the arena to clinch the first game with ease. But after the change of ends, it was the Indians turn to be affected by the wind and though he managed to save six game points he could not avoid the tie from going into the decider. “At this point, I felt like I was once again losing my focus. But I told myself not to think about the second game and concentrate on individual points,” Sridhar told. The loss in concentration had allowed Hidayat to take a big lead in the decider but the Indian unleashed [...]
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
September 9th, 2007 Deepak THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY A Saturday in Bristol was one of those rare days. It brought forth that perfect one-day match – and as we tend to look at everything from a batsman’s perspective in the shorter versions of the game, this perfection was obviously from that same viewpoint. Bowlers, be damned. The team batting first scored well over six runs an over and still won the game by the skin of their teeth. This is a familiar tale in most ODIs played on decent tracks throughout the year. Tracks are made to suit the batsmen and more often than not, we witness a run feast for 100 overs. So under these circumstances, with lives getting busier and attention spans getting shorter, the advent and interest in Twenty20 cricket made perfect sense. After all, why should someone wait for seven hours to get to know the result of a game when you can have it all jam-packed into three hours or so, plus, of course, with the accompanying entertainment – music, mini-contests, cheerleaders etc that doesn’t exist for the most in more serious cricket? T20 had all the ingredients of an entertaining 50-over game, it is played on flat tracks, the boundaries are brought in to ensure mores hits to and over the fence and, to top it all, as the games are basically eveningers, you don’t have to take off from office or school to watch the game. It seemed like an advertiser’s dream and was manna from the heavens for cricket’s organizers. So it is little surprise that less than a year or so after India. played their first Twenty20 international and the BCCI thumbed its collective nose at this bastardised version of the game, they are the first ‘official’ board that is preparing to jump on to the T20 bandwagon in a mega way with the concepts of the Premier Cricket League and the Champions Cricket League. If the BCCI, as it says, has been thinking about this for a while, why is it any surprise that Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford or Essel group head Subhash Chandra see Twenty20 cricket as the way to bullion bank? While the ICC, itself having got itself a T20 World Cup, is keeping mum on so-called "domestic" events, it’s high time people started looking at T20 (the cricketing part) more seriously. Straight off, the proposed events will add [...]
Fur from the madding crowd
September 9th, 2007 Deepak Fur from the madding crowd Kaafila Cast: Amitoj Maan essentially Direction: Amitoj Maan unfortunately Rating: AVERAGE All noise, no poise. This tummy-turner is a fusion of Russian salad, a Titanic watery soup, a jungle jilebi and even a Shootout at Afghani Asparaguswalla. If you wander into it, you may leave brain-dead. Cripes, Just in case you do, wander in that is, hold on to your helmets. An enormous group of desperadoes from all over the countryside is holed out in a Moscow log cabin. It seems they’re seeking illegal entry into England. Fake visas, scowls and shut-ups-shut-ups are organised by a bad guy wearing a skyscraper tall furry hat. Howzzat! Next: The wannabe immigrants’ grunt-grunt or just turn into pools of sauce. Among the survivors do note a Pakistani fakir who mimics Michael Jackson, dear Amitoj Mann who isn’t sure whether he’s acting or directing or neither, a South Indian who’s called ‘Idli Sambhar’, a Kolkata professor who tries to imitate Mrinal Sen and assorted scientists (?) who pass off a tube of pea khichdi as ‘plutonium.’ Such delirium. In addition, there’s a woman who’s so (unintentionally) hilarious that she could be Charlie Chaplin’s Angel. Last but not the least, say hello to Sunny Deol — as a mercenary; he shoots with both his hands, going bang-bang-bang-bang, till you check your own body for bullet wounds. Incidentally; Deol utters the most side-splitting line of dialogue in centuries. Says he seriously to the grunt gang, "Boys don’t get emotional. Eat because food has nothing to do with emotions." Profound. Indeed, Kaafila (official spelling) is so awful that you don’t know whether to laugh, cry or migrate to the chemist’s for a pain reliever.
Luxury of a loaf
September 8th, 2007 Deepak Luxury of a loaf With the mushrooming of cafes, bakeries and confectioneries in the city, the customer is certainly spoilt for choice. For one, the product is far superior in quality, it is mostly healthy and, the rest is packaged so invitingly, I’d buy it anyways. Be that as it may, we finally have available a doughnut, light and airy enough to be dunked in a steaming mug of black coffee. What’s more, it is spongy enough to soak in the hot liquid without leaving traces akin to an oil spill in the mug. Also, the variety of breads is mind boggling. No longer do you have to make do with the customary milk or caramelised brown bread, nor the special sandwich loaf from the neighbourhood bakery. No longer do you juggle the garlic baguette and the cheesy one for your ‘continental‘ evenings; you can now experiment with loaves garnished with olives and oregano. As for the ingredients, ‘you have a choice of breads prepared with atta, bran, soya, whole wheat, wholemeal, wholegrain; multi-grain, seeded… the list is endless. As a result, the once lowly sandwich, has suddenly acquired a certain air about itself. Given that it is essentially made up of leftovers disguised as exotica, it is quite the fashionable option to be caught eating with your cappuccino. Toasted, grilled or otherwise; hot or cold; open or layered, the fillings are as many (oftentimes as desi) as the toppings being offered by pizza companies. Depending on where you are eating, these carb-laden delights are served with good, bad or sour coleslaw. Potato crisps, tomato ketchup and mustard (or is it?) make up the rear end, unfailingly. Even as I fall victim to this food fashion, I am reminded of the ones my cousins, siblings and I created during our midnight feasts many summer vacations ago. Since this activity required utmost stealth, we could not rummage through the larder and had to make the most of easily available ammunition. Invariably, that comprised tough bread curling at the edges left out for feeding birds the following day! The fillings consisted of unbelievable (sometimes unidentifiable) material. Still, they were our mainstay when hunger pangs struck the instant the domestic help retired for the night. I’m not so sure how my insides would react to a banana, cheese and walnut sandwich today, or, apple and ginger on a layer of cream and sugar. [...]
A Consommé & The Minestrone.
September 8th, 2007 Deepak A Consommé & The Minestrone. Come monsoons and a bowl of soup is one thing, other than piping cuppa tea, one can never say no to. In India soups have come a long way: from the doctor advising you to have soup to recuperate and mom putting all the bountiful ingredients, chosen with care, in a pot boiled for hours to the lamb knuckle soup that keeps you warm in winters. Nowadays, while some people prefer soup as a starter to meals, others, especially on a diet, take soups as a whole nourishing meal with no calories at all. Here are a few of my favourite soups. Clear soup: the most famous and the basic of soups, clear soup has its origin in the delicate French cookery and is very nutritious and nourishing. Very delicately flavoured, it is called Consommé. It can be served with different kinds of garnishes and hence gets its different names. A consommé should be crystal clear. The clarity comes from the albumen of the egg white and the coagulation of the meat and clearing quality of the egg shell. Basic recipe of a consommé: 200 gm minced lamb 1 litre stock or water (cold) 1 bay leaf, 1 clove 3-4 pepper corn 100gm mixed vegetables, finely chopped (onion, carrots, turnips, coriander left over, and ginger trimmings) 1 egg white with the egg shell crushed into it, Salt and white pepper powder to taste Method: Thoroughly mix all the ingredients together in cold water (or stock) in a thick bottom pan. Place on boil on high heat and bring to boil stirring only once. As soon as it comes to boil stir slightly once and reduce heat to gentle. Cook for an hour on very low heat without stirring. Strain carefully using a muslin cloth in a clean pot. Serve in a warm soup tureen after correcting seasoning. The next soup I am going to talk about is the world-famous soup form Italy called Minestrone. This is tomato based garlic flavoured soup with pasta and vegetables and cheese. Minestrone Ingredients: 300gm mixed vegetable (onion, carrots, turnips, cabbage) cut in small dices 50gm Butter 25gm French beans cut diagonally into diamond shape, 1 litre Stock, with 1 clove of crushed garlic, salt, 1 clove, 1 bay leaf, 3 peppers corns. Pinch of nutmeg , 25gm Peas, 200gm Tomatoes (de-skinned, de-seeded and finely chopped), 25gm Spaghetti or any [...]
