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Badshah bytes Understanding the Shah Rukh Khan phenomenon

Discovery Channel presents an one-hour programme on how his insatiable ambition combined with the overall socio-political changes during the last two decades and the country’s globalisation process made an industry-outsider an icon of contemporary India.

Discovery Channel will air “Revealed – Shah Rukh Khan” on February 19 at 8 p.m.

A repeat telecast will be aired at 10 p.m. The programme will explain the formula for his unparalleled success – at home and abroad. Social anthropologists, film makers, film scholars, film critics and lifestyle commentators will detail the virtues which make him the consumer friendly face for brands across product categories, an innovative entrepreneur, a mega film-star, NRI icon and a family man. Experts from across the world will explain the impact he has had on both Bollywood and India’s image abroad.

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Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan talk about growing up with music and finding their own space

ABBA’s boys Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan

Lauded for their ‘movie star looks’ and their exalted lineage, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan, sons of sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, don’t always find it easy to step off their gilded pedestal. Every so often, though, a refreshing bit of candour comes through, adding a sparkle to their smiles In terms of diurnal schedules then, the brothers, who belong to the seventh generation of the Senia Bangash gharana, sound like every other young adult in urban India. In terms of achievement and opportunity, of course, they have limited competition.

Amaan, the elder brother, notes that while being sons and disciples of a celebrated artiste brings pressures of its own, they have tried to use it to their advantage. They have got the chance to interact with innumerable musicians from India and abroad, thanks to their father’s stature. There is no stopping them when it comes to praise of ‘Abba’.

“Our father is a good person, good looking, a good musician….” No wonder they named their biography of him — part of a series by children on their illustrious parents commissioned by Roli — “Abba: God’s Greatest Gift to Us”!

Authors again

Speaking of books, the two recently turned authors again, with the publication of Harper Collins’ “50 Maestros 50 Recordings”, which lists their favourite 50 classical recordings, each one accompanied by a short biography of the artiste, sometimes with personal anecdotes, and a description of the piece with details of the label.

“The idea was to make classical music more approachable to young people,” says Amaan.

The list includes artistes ranging from Ahmed Jaan Thirakwa to Balamuralikrishna, Begum Akhtar to M. L. Vasanthakumari, Imdad Khan to Shobha Gurtu. “This is our choice,” adds Amaan. “They are these artistes’ best work, according to us.”

The brothers…More

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On-screen politicos are no longer antagonists but young, dynamic leaders out to reflect the brighter side of politics

Young and dynamicA still from Leader and below Abhishek Bachchan in Paa

Sekhar Kammula’s Telugu film “Leader” has been creating a buzz by standing out from the regular love stories. “Leader”, says its hero Rana Daggubati, “presents a wish list of how a leader should be.” Though he insists that his character is not inspired by politicians of today, he shares, “I find there has been a remarkable change in the political system in recent years infused by people like Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, and Milind Deora. The involvement of the youth brings fresh perspectives. There is also tremendous amount of information exchange between people and the new-age politicians. This film attempts to bring about the change and reversal in that portrayal on screen.”

“Leader” has company. “Paa ”, which released a few months ago, was about Auro and his magic. Beyond that, it was also about the “Paa” — an idealist leader.. Critics and many film viewers felt Amol Arte’s (Abhishek Bachchan) ideologies and political conflicts deviated the film from the main storyline, but there was no denying the emphasis on clean young leaders in the film.

In the first few scenes, the school principal introduces Abhishek Bachchan as a “young, bright, cool leader of today”. Somewhere in the middle of the film, Abhishek tells his father Paresh Rawal that he wants to prove to the world, “Politics is not a bad word.” Amol Arte’s characterisation and look — the spotless white kurta, glasses and clean shaven look — draws from real-life politicians.

Like the generation next politicos, Amol stays connected with people on emails, replying to queries into the midnight hours. Mani Ratnam perhaps set the precedence in “Yuva” (the movement mooted by Suriya/Ajay Devgan gathers momentum as the young group moves from village to…More

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It’s official. The Academy does not take comedy seriously.

Ten Best Film nominations, and they couldn’t fit in one film that actually makes people laugh. Not even a token nomination for the wildly popular male-bonding binge “The Hangover” or the utterly romantic anti-thesis to the romantic comedy genre “500 Days of Summer”. Or, the seriously funny expletives-loaded political satire “In The Loop” (that it got a Screenwriting nod is some consolation).

James Cameron’s spectacular epic “Avatar” and Kathyrn Bigelow’s riveting drama “The Hurt Locker” lead the race with nine nominations each, with Quentin Tarantino’s pop-war film “Inglourious Basterds” close at their heels with eight nominations. Lee Daniels’s Sundance baby “Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire” and Jason Reitman’s bittersweet adaptation of “Up in the Air” with six nominations each are the two other front runners for Best Director.

Hence, we can be pretty much sure that the Best Film prize will emerge from one of these five.

Let’s take a quick look at these front-runners as I make my case on why Kathryn Bigelow should go home empty-handed, and Tarantino, instead, should be given at least one of the big two. Of course, in all probability, the Academy will award one each to the former couple to balance, and please fans of both kinds of cinema — the mainstream and the art-house. And, to celebrate the rare woman filmmaker to be nominated for the Best Director prize.

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1 Quentin Tarantino / “Inglourious Basterds”

“You know somethin’ Utivich, this might just be my masterpiece.” Of course, it is, sir. You have been a maverick all your life, defied conventions, had the audacity to misspell your movie title and rewrite history, but your biggest achievement, Sir Quentin, is how you have turned a handful of scenes into a two-and-a-half-hour long film with sparkling wit, delicious pop culture references and that dynamite tension. Your film…More

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The English women’s cricket team feels that it has the firepower to take on the Indian team

Photo: Sampath Kumar g.p.Quest for success With roots in Kolkata, Isa Guha is one of the talents in the English bowling department

Cricket is an Indian sport discovered by the English, goes a popular saying about the willow game. India remains cricket’s commercial pulse-point and though England remains the sport’s spiritual home, the ‘ gentleman’s game’ is now intrinsic to the land of Sachin Tendulkar.

To add to England’s woes, India has also managed to garner the number one rank in Tests.

However, there is some consolation for the English fans thanks to Charlotte Edwards and her strong bunch of women, who have won the spots that mattered last year — the World Cup and the ICC Twenty20 title.

The men may have ebbed and flowed and nursed their frothy bitters in the taverns, moaning about a long-lost time, howeverCharlotte and her merry group have shown what it takes to win.

The England women’s team is now set to play a series of limited overs games against the Indian team led by Jhulan Goswami. Bangalore will be home-base for the initial part of the tour and will host the first two matches.

Women’s cricket may appear to be in slow-motion mode when you switch over after watching men’s cricket, but there is no mistaking the intent and intensity.

The batters can strike hard and score quickly. “In a match in the World Cup, we almost scored at ten an over in the final phase,” says England coach, Mark Lane.

The bowlers can crank up the pace. “We can bowl adequately fast,” quip seamers Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt. They can also tease and torment with spin. “It is exciting to bowl in Indian conditions that favour spin,” says off-spinner Danielle Hazell.

However, some differences do exist. “I guess they are more emotional. You…More