SRK will realise I was right: Aamir Khan

The actor feels his 3 Idiots marketing exercise was well worth it

By Shweta Parande Buzz18 Dec 22, 2009

Aamir Khan is back in Mumbai after travelling the length and breadth of India in various disguises. Buzz18 caught up with the actor to know what his experience was like in this unique promotion exercise for his film 3 Idiots. Excerpts:

How was the experience of moving around the country?

It was the most amazing and enriching experience.

Which place was the best experience? Was there a problem in Gujarat due to Narendra Modi's ban on you during Fanaa?

Gujarat is not forbidden for me. The entire experience was enriching, wherever I went – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. There were three layers to this. One was the marketing angle. The other was to connect with my motherland and see my country very closely. It was a rare opportunity for me. And the third layer was the issues I wanted to bring to fore.

What kind of issues?

For example in Chanderi, I brought the plight of the weavers to fore. One-and-a-half years ago, someone had told me how are weavers are out of job. So the idea to go to a weaver's house was to help the art form stay alive. Also, in Gujarat, I went to a school to show there was free education up to the seventh standard, and the girl child's schooling is encouraged. I wanted to use my presence to highlight these issues.

Was everything planned?

No, I had not planned anything. For example, Varanasi was an emotional experience for me since I went to the place where my mother grew up. I actually decided to spend the night at Varanasi station to highlight the railways, which are the lifeline of the country. But one thing led to another and I went in search of my mother's house. But yes, we had sent four teams to do a recce of all the places three months ago. So the team helped me all along. I was in disguise so my code name was Phantom.

Is there any particular incident that remains in your mind apart from Varanasi?

In Mahabalipuram, there was this guide, Lakshman. I had a problem revealing myself in front of him. He did not watch Hindi films, and the stars he knew were only Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra. He did not know who Aamir Khan or Shah Rukh Khan was, leaving me in a fix. I had to tell him I've been acting for 20 years, and have invited him to the premiere in Mumbai. He will be there.

Shah Rukh Khan has condemned your 'vanishing act'…

Shah Rukh might not agree with what I've done now. But he will realise later that I was right.

Did anyone recognise you in the trip?

There was this girl in Mahabalipuram who recognised me through the disguise. She kept saying to her family that this is Aamir Khan, oblivious to the fact that my security guards were standing right behind her in plain clothes. She started coming up to me when I had not revealed myself to Lakshman (only to realise later that it didn't matter to him). I called my guards and they told her she could meet me later.

Have you invited the girl to the premiere, like some others?

No, I didn't. I didn't interact with her. But I could've. I have invited 24 people I've met in my journey to the premiere.

You had some health problems in your journey…

Yes, my journey was very tough. I travelled by road a lot and sometimes took a jet plane.

Do you think people in the remote areas understood the name of your film 3 Idiots? How did you explain the film to them?

I did not talk about the film with them. The idea was to connect with the people.

Whose idea was this?

It was my idea (Vidhu Vinod Chopra added that he's the one who spent money on it!). I don't think this kind of exercise has been carried out anywhere in the world. I'm very happy to be a part of it.

So, will it translate into more box office collections?

Promotions don't help a bad film. Only if the film is good, it works.

Aamir Khan's film 3 Idiots releases on the evening of December 24, 2009.

'Kareena is ill due to Mumbai food'

By Shweta Parande. Buzz18 Dec 23, 2009

Aamir Khan has his opinion on the actress' food poisoning

Aamir Khan was on a full on masti mood at a press conference Tuesday night in Mumbai. He spoke about his experience travelling around the country, and falling ill in between. Kareena Kapoor had also accompanied him to the village of Chanderi in remote Madhya Pradesh.

When asked about Kareena Kapoor's recent food poisoning incident, he said, "Kareena must've fallen ill due to Mumbai's food. If Kareena had stayed with me, she wouldn't have had food poisoning."

"The kind of food I had (while travelling) was amazing. I lived on dhaba food. And ate stuff in people's homes," he added.

"In Palanpur, a schoolgirl gave me her tiffin made by her grandmother," Aamir reminisced.

Vindu Dara Singh wins Bigg Boss 3

He took home Rs 1 crore and a Chevrolet car from the reality show

By Shweta Parande. Buzz18 Dec 27, 2009

Vindu Dara Singh won reality show Bigg Boss 3 on Colors, beating Pravesh Rana and Poonam Dhillon who were the other finalists. The winner was declared in a grand finale on Saturday night (December 26) by Amitabh Bachchan.

Vindu, the son of veteran actor and wrestler Dara Singh, won a booty of Rs 1 crore. He also won a sparkling blue Chevrolet Cruze sedan for being the "most aggressive" Bigg Boss 3 participant.

Vindu is a film and TV actor and hopes this win will give his career the much needed boost.

The finale episode had performances by contestants Claudia Ciesla, Vinod Kambli, Raju Srivastav, Kamaal Rashid Khan, Sherlyn Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Tanaaz Currim and Aditi Govitrikar.

REVIEW: Atul Kulkarni's Natarang

The Rang De Basanti actor displays his amazing range

By Shweta Parande. Buzz18 Jan 02, 2010

It's been long since a good film on the art of tamasha has been seen on Indian screens, and especially Marathi cinema. Atul Kulkarni's Natarang is one such. Based on a book by noted Marathi author Dr Anand Yadav, and directed by Ravi Jadhav, the film is the first release of 2010 (on January 1).

Natarang starts in flashback mode. Atul Kulkarni plays Guna, one of the many villagers out of work in a story set in the seventies.

When the others are dumbstruck about the next course of action, Guna is optimistic about what he wants his next source of livelihood to be. He is simply fascinated with the tamasha and the dance form of lavani, and wants to build his own troupe.

And so the process starts. Slowly Guna collects a handful of jobless people, and a man (Kishore Kadam) ready to finance and support his dream. This, in spite of opposition from his father, and wife (Vibhavari Deshpande). The team already has a story and start rehearsing.

But Guna and his friends soon realise that lack of a central female character will shoo potential audiences away. And so, a search begins for one. Enter Naina (played by Sonali Kulkarni – a fresh, new one, not the Dil Chahta Hain one), a hot new tamasha artiste.

Now that they have a female, a need is felt for a 'nachya' – a eunuch – like the one immortalised by actor Ganpat Patil in countless Marathi films. As none of the men agree to enact the role, it falls upon Guna to take up the challenge. But will the actor who always wanted to play king in a play, agree to play a eunuch?

The actor in Guna is motivated to do it, to the extent that he loses oodles of weight to look the part. And with the help of the pretty and talented Naina, he learns the mannerisms.

The first half of the film ends with Atul Kulkarni in the guise of a nachya, with tremendous applause from the audience in the theatre.

The second half has lots of twists and turns. Though the troupe's tours are successful from village to village, Guna's life changes completely because of the role he is essaying.

Away from his family for months, Guna falls for Naina whose company he finds more comforting than his worrisome wife.

But because he's playing a character which is not 'manly', he faces prejudice. His father dies of shock, his son has to face taunts and his wife loses faith in him. Naina also refuses to be with him permanently….

Guna faces all this with temerity and moves on – until the biggest tragedy strikes him. Watch Natarang to know what that incident is and how it changes everything for Guna.

Natarang is Atul Kulkarni's masterstroke, as he essays both dimensions of his character with ease. The new, young actress Sonali Kulkarni is sexy and acts well, suiting her role to the T. And of course, the lavani 'item song' by Amruta Khanvilkar is a hit. Kishore Kadam's performance is also notable. Director Ravi Jadhav excels in this outing, although the end could've been more powerfully projected.

Verdict: The film would've been better if it were shorter and the script tighter. But considering it wanted to showcase all the turning points in Guna's life from the book, the length seems all right. Watch out for Atul Kulkarni's performance.

Rating: 3.5/5

Padmapriya's Hindi debut with Siddharth

Her film Striker releases February 5

By Shweta Parande. Buzz18 Jan 13, 2010

Tamil actress Padmapriya Janakiraman will soon make her Bollywood debut with Rang De Basanti actor Siddharth in Strikers. The Studio 18 film has been directed by Chandan Arora.

Padmapriya is a Tamil Brahmin born in Delhi. Before turning to films, she was working with GE. Her modelling stints helped her get movies in the south.

Striker is actor Siddharth's second Hindi film after Rang De Basanti. He had also starred in a short film called Blood Brothers, made by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Striker releases February 5, 2010. VISIT STRIKER PAGE

REVIEW: Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rann'

Remarkable performances make the predictable film watchable

By Shweta Parande. Buzz18 Jan 30, 2010

Of the many films made on the media and its functioning, Rann will go down as one of the best ones. Ram Gopal Varma has brought to life a predictable but powerful script, backed by extremely talented actors and technicians. But the director has taken many cinematic liberties.

Rann opens with Purab Shastri (Ritesh Deshmukh) watching the news on India 24/7 along with his live-in girlfriend Nandita Sharma (Gul Panag). Purab idolises his new boss Vijay Harshvardhan Malik (Amitabh Bachchan), owner of the channel and a man of principles.

Malik's channel is not doing well, as the competition is stealing ideas from under his nose. Add to that, his emphasis on ethics and values makes sure sensationalism stays away from his medium.

Operating with exactly opposite business ethics is Amrish Kakkar (Mohnish Behl), Malik's protégé who runs the current number one channel, Headlines 24.

Purab joins India 24/7 and soon goes on to do good stories. Supporting him is special shows editor Anand Prakash Trivedi (Rajpal Yadav), and Chief Operating Officer Nalini Kashyap, (Suchitra Krishnamurthy).

Jay (Sudeep), Malik's son is envious of the young Purab. He's also increasingly intolerant of his dad's journalistic ethics, and convinces him to be practical and make a few changes in the programming.

The twist comes when Jay gets desperate to save the sinking channel. His brother-in-law Navin Shankalya (Rajat Kapoor) is a top industrialist who wants to climb up further to beat his elder brother. And for that, he entices Jay to 'create' a news story 'exposing' Prime Minister Huda's hand in the recent blasts, so that he's ousted. All this is the planning of Jan Seva party president Mohan Pandey (Paresh Rawal) who wants to be the next PM. Jay, of course, succumbs to the temptation and persuades dad that the story is true.

Rann is serious from the beginning, so the first half is a bit of a drag, when the plot is being established. But post interval, the film is truly gripping. The story in the second half is about creating news, blackmailing, murder, media-politician nexus, and other pressures allegedly faced by the media. It is about how Purab goes about exposing Jay Malik, Mohan Pandey and his aides. And it's about a father's choice.

PERFORMANCES

The biggest rockstar is undoubtedly Amitabh Bachchan. The legend steals the show in his speech that reveals the whole nexus involving his son. The speech leaves the audience speechless, so to speak! Yes, now we know, one more time, why Bachchan is called the BIG B. This end also reminds one of the Kamal Haasan film directed by Shankar, Hindustani, in which the old man kills his corrupt son.

Ritesh Deshmukh looks good and acts well in a serious role. Gul Panag as the assistant director live-in girlfriend is good, but has no impact on the story except supporting Purab and egging him on.

But the surprise package is not Ritesh, but multiple Filmfare Award-winner, Kannada actor Sudeep who plays Malik's son Jay. Sudeep holds his own in front of Amitabh Bachchan, and displays supreme confidence throughout. He plays his part with panache.

Also notable is Mohnish Behl, essaying a powerful role in a long time on the big screen, reminding us of the impression he left upon viewers in Maine Pyar Kiya as the suave villain.

And it's a good week for Paresh Rawal, with two of his big films releasing – Rann and Road to Sangam. Rawal plays a strong negative character, like his earlier films before he got into Hera Pheri-esque comedies.

Suchitra Krishnamurthy also surprises with her very 'correct' performance. Much like Manisha Koirala's in Company. Neetu Chandra is okay as Yasmin, the Muslim girlfriend of Jay.

However, it's Rajpal Yadav who gets the most claps for what his character depicts with the help of humour.

FLAWS

The world of media is depicted more from what probably director Ram Gopal Varma, as well as you and me have observed as viewers. It is not necessarily a well-researched film, but inspired from real happenings a la RGV's Satya or Company. Much like Madhur Bhandarkar.

And it is strange that a man of the stature of Harshvardhan Malik simply trusts his young son blindly, not verifying facts before accusing the head of state of a serious offence like a bomb blast. And then when Malik learns his son is a culprit, he doesn't even feel the need to talk to his own child before disclosing it to the whole world. Especially since Jay is not an inherently vicious person. But then, it's about the country, after all.

Also the politician-media-industrialist nexus plot can be a bit confusing if you don't concentrate. So, this film is serious, not for college students suffering from attention deficit disorder.

Verdict: Ram Gopal Varma brings us yet another gripping drama in the league of Sarkar and Sarkar Raj. The performances definitely make up for the flaws in the story. Also watch out for some good scenes and camera angles.

Rating: 3.5/5

'I would've loved to do Aamir's role in 3 Idiots'

Striker star Siddharth on his comeback

By Shweta Parande. Buzz18 Jan 30, 2010

Actor Siddharth created quite a fan following with his performance in Rang De Basanti, with females ogling at him all through even in the presence of Aamir Khan. But after that, Siddharth vanished from the Hindi film scene, only to come back in 2010 with Studio 18's film Striker. We caught up with him to know what he's been up to.

This is only your second major Hindi release after Rang De Basanti. Where were you all this while?

I was busy consolidating my position as an A-list star in Telugu. Simultaneously, I was looking for a deserving follow up to Rang De…. I hate being slotted or typecast, so I was also busy turning down many films. That's four years justified, right?

Weren't you flooded with offers after the success of Rang De Basanti?

Like I said, it's not quantity, it's quality that's driven my career. I've never looked at hedging bets on films. I do one film at a time and that too only if I believe in it. The offers that came my way weren't exciting enough.

About Striker. Are you a good carrom player in real life? How did you train for the film and under whom? And, are you always after the Queen?

Carrom brings back childhood memories. I was never champion material though. My carrom coach Zaid made sure in two months that I was as good as anyone around. I've played some very difficult shots in the film.

How was it working with Padmapriya and Nicolette Bird?

I've worked with three lovely ladies in Striker. Nicolette is angelic and brings so much purity to Noorie in the film. The Cham Cham song which is picturised on her is magical. Padmapriya is a powerhouse actor. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her because she kept me on my toes, with her preparation and spontaneity. Vidya Malvade is a co-star who I slipped into character with very easily. She plays my sister and it's a track that oozes chemistry.

What are your expectations from Striker?

Huge! I expect Striker to deliver commercially and critically. I expect it to find me my zone in Hindi cinema. I expect it to launch Chandan Arora as a unique cinematic voice, and to make it possible for us to make many films in the future.

Was it difficult singing for the film? Are you a trained singer?

I've sung before in Telugu and have been blessed with chartbusting success. Bombay Bombay and Haq Se are two songs that required me to sing like an edgy character as opposed to a playback singer. It was fun, and I'm very proud of the music of Striker. It is the first true ensemble soundtrack of its kind in Indian cinema. I want to thank all six composers for their talent and kindness.

Experience working with Chandan Arora.

Chandan is a dream director for any method actor. He fully permits collaboration and interpretation. He is a hard taskmaster, but a dearer friend.

If you had been approached for 3 Idiots, which role would you have loved to portray?

Aamir Khan's role.

Is life better in the south (film industry)?

I have a well-honed and distinct style of working which I am recognised for. Since I don't change on different sets in different industries, the experience is identical. All industries are the same.

What are your future Bollywood projects, and roles that you would like to portray? Which are the current actresses you would want to work with in Bollywood? And directors?

I don't believe in wish lists of directors and actors. I want to do good films based on good scripts. And anyways, when you've started your career in three industries with Mani Ratnam, Aamir Khan and Prabhu Deva, who needs wish lists!

REVIEW: Siddharth's STRIKER

Slow pace and sub-plots ruin a good film

A film on carrom seemed like a good idea. Apart from cricket, this is one game very close to the hearts of Indians – and probably the most played indoor game before pool took over in the late '90s.

[READ: 'I would've loved to do Aamir's role in 3 Idiots']

Chandan Arora's Striker is about carrom champ Surya (Siddharth). But it is not about the game alone. It is also about Surya's journey in which the game has played an integral part.

Striker travels back and forth in time between 1977 and 1992. The film is set in the Mumbai ghetto of Malvani. Smuggling and gang wars were big then, so were dreams of a job in Dubai, and carrom.

Surya is one such little boy from Malvani who gets introduced to the game through his champion brother Chandra (Anoop Soni), and also encounters the murky world of gambling in the game through gang leader Jalaal (Aditya Panscholi). Poor health keeps Surya away from school, and he goes on to win the junior nationals.

But Surya grows up to be a normal youngster, working as a courier. He dreams of going to Dubai, but as was common then, the employment agency dupes him. On top of that, he loses his first love Noorie (Nicolette Bird).

The dejected Surya's pal Zaid (Ankur Vikal) introduces him to Jalaal again to gamble in carrom in order to pay off his debt. Hesitant at first, Surya is drawn to the world. And not having practiced for 4-5 years, he finds a place to do it – a shanty bar run by a fisherwoman Madhu (Padmapriya). Soon, Zaid and Surya earn big bucks due to the latter's special skills. But not for too long.

The film takes a turn post interval, with many dramatic changes in Surya's life. These seem like little jerks in the screenplay at times. Like the unnecessary track of Madhu, who he happens to force himself upon and eventually marry.

Surya eventually takes revenge on Jalaal, but not for his debt. Watch the film to know why.

Striker's pace is slow, much like the '80s and early '90s it's based in. Also, the back stories are too many and it gets a li'l annoying as well as confusing for the viewer.The film has a good message told through the story of a carrom player. It is not about carrom, but about the game of life and how you strike to defend yourself.

Director Chandan Arora succeeds in showing the Mumbai of '80s. The setting and the life has been recreated well.

The narration style reminds us of Ram Gopal Varma's films. But unlike Ramu, Chandan goes a bit overboard with his baby – not knowing where to make it crisper. But a good effort nevertheless.

Actor Ankur Vikal who played the menacing Maman in Slumdog Millionaire, shines in Striker as well. His fun-loving, rangeela character complements Siddharth's soft-spoken, brooding Surya.

Siddharth is not too different from Rang De Basanti, acts well, and – it's worth mentioning – plays superb carrom.

Aditya Panscholi makes an impression as Jalaal, the villain.

Anupam Kher plays his part of a cop well. Seema Biswas a s Surya's mom is noticeable.

Southern star Padmapriya hardly has a role, but enacts her part well. Nicolette Bird and Vidya Malvade are good in bit parts.

The dialogues of the film are good, but sometimes not audible. Either there had to be a retake in shooting, or dubbing.

We wish the carrom shots were captured with a little more imagination. Yeah sure, it's not cricket or hockey with the whole ground to move your camera on, but still….

Verdict: All in all, Striker has its good moments, but it's difficult to say if it will work in multiplexes or single screens. But if the plot were a little cleaner and crisper, it would've struck a chord with everyone.

Rating: 2.5/5

Always a good hair day for TV's men!

Hairstyles and stubbles seem to define a man's character, at least on the small screen. Akashdeep, Ronit and Shabbir let their mops do the talking...
By Shweta Parande . Buzz18 Jul 07, 2007

Abhishek Bachchan's hair-band became a fashion trend overnight. The big screen stars have their signature styles — from John Abraham's earlier bonded look to Hrithik's sun-kissed highlights. Not to be outdone, our telly stars too have been working hard on their locks or lack thereof. Here's looking at some of the best known faces and their tresses

Akashdeep Sehgal – Long locks to stardom

This long-haired villain's dashing entry in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Tulsi's long lost son cemented his place in the viewers' hearts. The girls can't stop raving about his tresses, which apparently have brought him more fame than being Farah Khan's ex-boyfriend ever did.

Ronit Roy – I love grey hair

There are many people who remember Rishabh Bajaj from Kasauti Zindagi Kay. There was a grey note, which seeped through both his character and his hair. The silvery look must have been a hit as he landed the plum role of Mihir Virani from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.

For a short while after KZK, we actually saw a few middle-aged men unashamedly flaunting their grey gelled spikes, aping the actor's style.

Yash Tonk – Hair it like it is

Yash Tonk believes in aping his namesake Yash Birla. In Kahiin Kissi Roz the poker-straight ironed cut won him a decent number of followers and even an odd film or two. Though this actor now has a receding hairline, his flamboyant style was quite a trendsetter those days.

Chetan Hansraj – Check him out!

Chetan made an impact in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii with his ragged hair and stubble. Considered as one of the sexiest actors in the Indian TV industry today, he manages to play the good boy and bad one with equal ease. The wild demeanour has earned him a huge fan following especially with women.

Shabbir Ahluwalia – Shabbyer than thou

Shabbir has always been associated with untidy, unruly locks and a sweet smile. Despite the success of Kahiin To Hoga, Shabbir remains nonchalant about his appearance. The actor gives a damn about being well groomed and his unkempt look has become his trademark style.

Manoj Bohra – The lovable brat

Manoj Bohra is sometimes referred to as the man with the tail. Oops! We mean ponytail. The spoilt brat Prem in Kasauti Zindagi Kay sported a smartly gelled back pigtail. For a while, he decided to go sober and shortened his tresses. And just when we were getting used to his gentlemanly image, he went ahead and started sporting an Afro look!




Ronit and shabbir , definitely !
Sukhwinder Sep 25, 2007 at 02:09 PM

Famous lines on Indian television

How many times have you found yourself finishing off a dialogue even before the actor on TV could open his mouth?

By Shweta Parande . Buzz18 Jul 06, 2007
Comments [3555]

How many times have you found yourself finishing off a dialogue even before the actor on TV could open his/her mouth? If you are a sucker for soaps, chances are, all too often. Here's our list of some of the clichés that abound in the soap scripts, making you cringe every time the familiar jump cuts and thunder claps explode on to our senses. Can you think of some more cliches in TV scripts? Tell us.

Maine sirf tumse pyar kiya hai

Nobody else would give me any attention, you know!

Tumne aisa kyun kiya

When the husband has strayed... yet again.

Main tumhe kabhi maaf nahin karoonga/karoongi

So that the soap can go on and on and on…

Aaj main jo kuch bhi hoon, woh tumhari vajah se hain

The lover-turned-husband's favourite line to patao his wife.

Main aapke pair padti hoon!

When nothing else works!

Aakhir tum chahte kya ho?

Oh, boy! Don't you already know what he wants?

eh phone kisne kiya hoga?
Crank callers beware!

Tumhe yeh thappad bahut bhari parega
In other words, 20 episodes and generation leaps later, you will face my backhand!

Ab dekho mera khel
The vamp-in-kanjeevaram's parting shot, with one arched eyebrow and bleached hair glistening with rage.

Yeh sauda nahin ho sakta hai
The family patriarch/matriarch speaks out against a business deal…at last.

Hey maata meri raksha karo/unki raksha karo/mere pariwar ki raksha karo
Tulsi, Rajnigandha, Juhi… whatever be their name, they know their prayers when it comes to that.

Yeh uski koi gehri chaal hai!
Bravo! Realisation dawns on the hapless bahu at last.

Nikal jao is ghar se!
I've been eyeing that plush sofa for a long time, now it's my turn to warm it, yeeeaaa!

Aakhir yeh bachcha kiska hai?
A bit late in the day dude, since the child is almost an adult now!

'There's no time for love or marriage'

Actress Sadia Siddique is busy but not in a hurry. She shares some thoughts with Shweta Parande

By Shweta Parande . Buzz18 Jul 05, 2007

We’ve seen her in memorable roles in shows like Banegi Apni Baat, Humrahi, and many others. Currently, Sadia is doing hot shows Saat Phere and Saathii Re. We caught up with her to check out what else is happening in her life.

You have been in the TV industry for the last 15 years and seen it through various phases. Comment on the current scenario.
The shows today are much more glamorous and a lot more competitive. But somewhere, the competition results in loss of quality. I remember watching serials which were a reflection of life.

People still recognise me for my character in Banegi Apni Baat. That’s because it was close to life. They could say, ‘Oh, I know a person like that. She’s like my mom or my girlfriend…’ The story of BAB was real and we had very good actors. It is for the same reason that a lot of my friends don’t watch TV today.

Why do you think serials like BAB are not made today? Are we getting regressive?
The masses are appreciating the saas-bahu serials because most of them are mothers who are housewives.

But weren’t there mothers and housewives even in the days of BAB?
Yeah. But I dunno, those kind of roles are just not there anymore. If you get to play a character that has more conflicts, then it’s enjoyable to play and to watch.

Do you have any friends in the industry?
My best friends are not from my industry. I have only one best pal who’s an actor — Suchita Trivedi.

Films, TV, theatre, music videos — which is the most satisfying for you?
All have different approaches. Theatre will definitely get more marks, as there is an immediate response from the audience. Plus, there are no cuts there and you can do something new with every show. You never feel it’s enough.__PAGEBREAK__Which are your latest plays?
Two plays by Manav Kaul. There’s Peele Scooterwala Aadmi — an abstract play about a guy who has many alter egos, me being one of them. The other is Bali Aur Shambhu — about two old people in an old age home. I play a doctor.

You have done Little Buddha. Any other overseas projects in the offing?
I’m reading a few scripts right now. I’ve finished an English film by Grey Cell — Taxiwalla — shot in India and NY. It is a real story directed by R Suri, who is based in the UK.

The story is about a cab driver. He saves money from his earnings and opens a school for the girls in his village. I play an illiterate but smart village belle who refuses to go to school. A clerk in love with her persuades her. Pankaj Kapoor, Dalip Tahil, Rajit Kapoor, Mita Vashist and Shernaz Patel star in the film.

You are part of two of the best shows on air today – Saat Phere and Saathii Re. But are you happy with your roles in them?
I play totally different characters in the two shows. It’s good to play them. But like I said, there are no roles available today. What you get to see are know-all characters. I don’t mind playing a vamp but not a vamp without a reason to be so.

What’s happening in your love life? There were rumours of you and Raj Logani going around...
There’s no time for love or marriage. We’re friends but there’s nothing happening otherwise.

Have you got comfortable in your new den? Is it lonely?
Yeah. It took a long time for me to shift into the new place. My mom started blackmailing me to shift! She packed my bags and dropped me there, teasing me all the time.

It used to be lonely earlier. I used to be scared of even my Teddy bear. But now, my two brothers and their wives and kids come over often and we spend some time together.

On the sets: Baa Bahoo Aur Baby

Is life always ha ha he he on the sets of a comedy show? It is a lot of hard work to keep audiences laughing their heads out. Find out...

By Shweta Parande . Buzz18 Jun 18, 2007

Suchita Trivedi is swinging on a traditional jhoola, cooling herself for the next shot. Dressed in a printed saree, she’s chatting animatedly on the phone about a party later that night to celebrate two years of being one of the funniest families on the tube.

“Just T-shirt and jeans. No, don’t touch up at all. Everybody’s doing goonda dance. It’s crazy!” she adds delightedly.

We are on the on the sets of Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, now chatting with Suchita aka Meenaxi, who is one of the bahus in the long-running serial. “The show is a mirror image of the middle-class. We’re showing what everybody can relate to. In fact, the director and the writer are very open to suggestions,” she says. As if on cue, Suchita’s colleagues pounce on her, “Suchita, don’t lie, okay!”

We can’t help but notice how most of them seem so unreal, in their everyday clothes (jeans and T-shirts, hair falling casually, speaking in English), as far removed from the screen characters as possible.

It is a plush set, with old wooden furniture and black and white framed pictures on the wall. On closer inspection, the images reveal themselves to be of real people, not the actors in the soap. How’s that for a touch of make-believe?

Meanwhile, attention is drawn to a courtyard where Baa (Sarita Joshi), the central character of the show, is giving a shot. A thorough professional, Joshi breezes through her sequence in a single take before moving to the monitor to check out the shot.__STARTQUOTE__“Phati gayeche script,” (The script is torn) declares director Deepesh Shah, referring to the torn page__ENDQUOTE__Cutting chai doing the rounds, the air rife with Gujju banter, assistants are however working diligently. Elsewhere, Benaf Dadachanji, playing the polio-afflicted Baby, delivers her reaction shots, her crutches lying around carelessly.

Suddenly, three kids, all seemingly of the same age and height, come running in like Uncle Scrooge’s nephews Hui, Dui and Lui, mother in tow. They are the director’s sons, we learn.

As the unit begins to wind up for the day, the table, often a focal point in the shots, is laid out nicely for the take. “Phati gayeche script,” (The script is torn) declares director Deepesh Shah calmly, referring to the torn page. This shot is a long one (in duration), and takes up an hour.

BBAB is perhaps one of the few serials to have survived the axe, and according to Shah, it is because each person can identify with some character or the other. “That’s why Aatishbhai (writer) and I have taken real life characters and situations,” he explains humbly.

And as Shah shouts ‘Pack up’, the customary Ganpati bappa morya echoes in the air.

Watch Baa Bahoo Aur Baby on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9.30 pm on Star Plus.

Why are Gautami-Ram hot property?

With Gautami stepping into Smriti's shoes, the twosome are suddenly in focus

Here's taking a look at the most happening twosome on the small screen...
By Shweta Parande . Buzz18 Jun 14, 2007

Gautami Gadgil and Ram Kapoor may have been fairly known before Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. But the show has evidently put them into the spotlight like never before. With Gautami stepping into Smriti Irani’s shoes as Tulsi, much is being speculated about her ability to carry it off. Will she or won’t is something one can only wait and watch. The actress of course is optimistic.

She says, “I feel a sense of responsibility and pressure since Smriti has been playing the role for seven years. But it’s not easy to get something like this. I do believe it’s tough but certainly not impossible.”

Ram too has been quite kicked about his wife bagging the role. Ask him his opinion about Gautami playing a 70-year-old lady and he replies, “If I can play a character much older than my age in Kasamh Se, why can’t she?”

Ram, evidently Ekta’s blue-eyed boy, is literally carrying Kasamh Se on his lonesome shoulders. And with Gautami entering Kyunki… as Tulsi, they have become one of the most popular off-screen couples in recent times.

__STARTQUOTE__Ram and Gautami are past their prime. Gautami is even a mother. But it is precisely this that makes them the golden couple of the season__ENDQUOTE__

Not so long ago everyone was talking of the young Gauri Pradhan and Hiten Tejwani. Unlike them, Ram and Gautami are past their prime. Gautami is even a mother. But it is precisely this that makes them the golden couple of the season. They may not be your prince and princess from the fairytale land. But they certainly have a poise exceeding their far younger predecessors.

Why else would Ram enter Kyunki…? Indeed, if rumours are to be believed, the actor is to add drama to the show. He will play the doctor who gives his dead wife’s face to Tulsi. And in a true Ekta Kapoor style, a love triangle will emerge.

This isn’t the first time however the two have shared the screen. Years ago Ram and Gautami had acted together in Ghar Ek Mandir, one of Balaji’s afternoon soaps. The couple hit it off and fell in love. And after three years of courting, they married.

Till Kasamh Se and Kyunki… their list of individual achievements hasn’t been particularly impressive. Gautami’s most notable one has been a song sequence in the Abhi-Ash starrer Kuch Na Kaho. Ram Kapoor has done a fair bit of acting in films like Monsoon Wedding, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow. But this is largely where his film career stands.__PAGEBREAK__Now however with the small screen getting bigger than ever before, neither seems to be complaining. And for Gautami who has been itching to get back into the spotlight, this is just perfect. As she says, “I wanted to get back to work. After my marriage I wasn’t really doing anything big. I was not in the limelight as such.”

At the same time she insists, a little paradoxically, “My family will continue to remain my top priority.”

It seems she has even bargained with Balaji for flexible timings. “I have a family and a little baby to look after. And I have to travel for over four hours every day. So I have kept my work hours flexible.”

While she plans to give a fresh look to the character and the show, she also hopes the audiences accept her. But she is clear about one thing. “I will not ape anyone,” she says emphatically. The question of comparisons then doesn’t really bother her much. “Even Shah Rukh was compared with Amitabh Bachchan. Comparisons will always be there,” she shrugs.

Ask her what happens if Smriti returns, and pat comes the reply, “It doesn’t matter. I will be shifted to some other Balaji show!”

Call it the perks of working in the K Company or being married to one of Ekta’s favourites. But we’d say it’s one intelligent career move, Kasamh Se!

Kasamh Se, I'm not an insecure actor!

Nigaar Z Khan wants to move away from negative roles

By Shweta Parande Buzz18 Jun 09, 2007



Tell us something about See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil Plot 2…
I was very much part of the first See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. Plot 2 is a sequel but not a continuation. Shreedhar (Ashiesh Roy), Aditya (Paritosh Painter) and Manav (Jayesh Thakkar) play deaf, dumb and blind guys, and I play their assistant Rosy. The play is a mystery and a comedy of the characters' hunt for money.

Are you doing the play just because Paritossh and team are your friends?
No. I’m doing it because I’m free right now. Plus, I will not get to play such a comic character on TV so easily. The play opened on June 3 and has got an amazing response. The next show is on June 17.

Are you moving towards doing more theatre?
I love theatre. I do it to test myself. But I prefer TV, as people see and relate more to it.

Is this a conscious effort to move away from negative roles?
It is, to keep evolving as an actor. I don’t mind doing negative roles but the same kinds of roles have bored me now.

__STARTQUOTE__ The good thing about a comedy is that it does not run due to just one person – everybody contributes to each scene__ENDQUOTE__

How has your experience been doing comedy in Yess Boss?
That’s one show that I don’t regret doing. I really admire the actors. I used to keep a distance from them initially, as they are my seniors. But there’s a comfort level now and I really enjoy working with them.

The good thing about a comedy is that it does not run due to just one person — everybody contributes to each scene.

Lipstick, your first show, had some of the biggest stars in it. Did you face any problems with them while shooting?
Yes, Lipstick was my first show. It is there that I realised I could act. All the senior actors were very good to me. For example, there was Aly Khan who was helpful.

What about the female co-stars? Didn’t you have a rift with one of them?
Most of them were good. Though there were rumours of a rift between Shveta Salve and me. There was some coldness between us.


Didn’t you try to sort it out with her?
When people unnecessarily create walls, I think they don’t want to be disturbed. Plus, I’m not an insecure actor. I’m confident of my abilities.

Given a choice, what role would you like to portray — Smriti Iraani’s in Kyunki… or Sudha Chandran’s in Kahiin Kissi Roz?
Definitely, Smriti Iraani’s. No matter what everyone says, it is one of the top shows. She has got a chance to play different shades and has really evolved. Look at her show Viruddh. She’s crossed all convention in cinematography as well.

Are you doing any Balaji shows? Do you prefer the Balaji camp?
I was fortunate enough to do Kasamh Se. I’ve done a lot of cameos for Balaji. But no, I’m not doing any new shows with them.

As for the second question, I would not like to comment upon it.

You’re a six-footer. Does your height come in the way of lucrative roles?
No. In fact, I’ve worked opposite shorter co-stars like Kabir Sadanand in Zaara. And they’ve never had any problem!__STARTQUOTE__My life was totally topsy-turvy when Negar Khan was here__ENDQUOTE__

What was life like when the other Negar Khan was in India? Did you change the letters in your name for her?
My life was totally topsy-turvy when she was here. My pictures, my interviews, all got mixed up. It was terrible. People thought I was the Chadati jawani Negar. And I was like, ‘Oh, no!’ It’s amazing how two women with the same name can be so different.

Yes, I did change my spelling because of her. But I don’t want people to associate me with just my name. I want to be respected for my work. But wherever Negar is, I hope life is good for her. I don’t have any problem if she comes back.

What’s on in your love life?
Nothing. I’m happy with my family, my friends and my cat!

But with the hectic TV schedules of today, there is bound to be some attraction to one’s co-stars.
That’s true. But all my co-stars are either married or hooked up! I was attracted to one of the single actors, but that was it. Nothing happened. Probably, I’m not destined to find love in this industry!


comments [2]

You are very beautyfull and looking so nice in mitwa phool
kamal ke. Your roll in this serial suits on you very much
JIYA Aug 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Well i never a g8 feestish to watch the soaps on tv ...My
schedule are too busy to saw them ... But when i get such
time than i elucidates my time to knw the happening around
the corner ...And the result of it i saw the add of newly
lanched eek khiladi ekk hasina ..In which nigaar z khan
performing opposite with dinesh kartik . I become totaly
flat on seeing her first look .I must say that nigaar you
look really beautiful ...I have no words to explain this
well all i can say you rae awesome ..
varun singh Oct 04, 2008 at 11:57 PM

Meet Madhoo, the tantrum queen

The actress is running away from her comeback film
By Shweta Parande . IBN Live May 07, 2007

Actress Madhoo of Roja fame has not exactly been making waves in the recent past. But debut director Kallol Sen was happy to have an established actress amidst a group of rank newcomers in his film until the actress started playing games with him. There has been a buzz about the film Kabhi Socha Bhi Na Tha being the actress’s comeback vehicle.

Then why is she missing from the scene?

Initially, Madhoo was very enthusiastic about the role. The controversy arose when we wanted to change the name of the movie to Love, Sex, Etc.,” Sen said. At this point, Madhoo’s husband and in-laws got involved as they were did not approve of Sen wanting to change the title ofthe film . The objection was not to the story but to the word ‘sex’, which was a part of the new title. Also, Madhoo was playing the role of a lesbian and it made them uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the producer of the film Kiran Sen said, “She doesn’t have the time to travel all the way from town.” When probed further, she said, “Madhoo belongs to a rich, industrialist family. They had problems with the word ‘sex’ in our new title, so we compromised for her sake. The movie is not sleazy; it just talks about sex openly. We wonder what her problem is?”

Madhoo’s brush with controversy in this film is not new. First she vanished after the first half had been canned and then suddenly came back all ‘enthusiastic’ about the role. Once the entire film was completed she vanished again.

The makers of the film say that there has been no effort on Madhoo’s part to participate in the dubbing or promotions of the film.

Was Mohd Rafi truly a genius?

Twenty-seven years after his death, his songs do not fail to mesmerise us
By Shweta Parande . Buzz18 Jul 31, 2007

Thousands gather at Mohammed Rafi's tomb in Santa Cruz, Mumbai to pay homage to one of the greatest singers of India, and undoubtedly one of the best in the 20th century. People from all over the world, of many nationalities and religions though mainly Indian, flock to their sacred place.

This year on July 31, Mohd Rafi's death anniversary will see the same phenomenon. But you know what, this adulation is not limited to July 31st or December 24th (his birthday). There are people who put flowers on the legend's tomb every day!

What is it about Rafi that pulls people 27 years after his death? Surely not just his singing — but also something deeper, sublime, spiritual to his melodious and mellifluous voice. That voice which strikes a chord with millions even today, young and old, and is claimed to be divine.

Maybe it has something to do with Rafi's beginnings as a singer.

(Watch the interview of Binu Nair, Founder, The Rafi Foundation)

Next Page: Rafi's beginnings

From the fakir to Bollywood

Born in a small town Kotla Sultan Singh (also called Kotla Sultanpur) near Amritsar in 1924, young Rafi was drawn to the chants of a fakir in his village and imitated them. That was his basic training. No wonder then, that his voice had a spiritual quality to it, especially reflected in tragic songs.

Rafi learnt Hindustani classical music from a very young age under none other than Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwanlal Matto and Firoz Nizami.

Music director Shyam Sunder gave Rafi his first break in the early 1940s in the film Gul Baloch for a Punjabi song, Soniye hiriye, teri yaad ne bahut sataya, which was released on February 28, 1944. Shyam Sunder later signed Rafi for all his future films, including Gaon ki gori.

Rafi landed with a recommendation letter at music director Naushad's, who first took him on for the chorus. But impressed with his style, Naushad imposed full faith in Rafi and they delivered the superhit Baiju Bawra. The song O Duniya Ke Rakhwale made Rafi famous all over India and brought him what he was waiting for.

But Rafi's debut was Pehle Aap, though he was recognised in Mehboob's Anmol Ghadi, where he got the opportunity to sing with Noorjehan. Such was his success, that he soon overtook contemporaries Manna Dey, Talat Mahmood, Hemant Kumar and Mukesh.

Next Page: More on Rafi's Bollywood career

And yet, Manna Dey had only kind words to say for him. He has said in the past, "He was a wonderful human being, and a great singer. I've been a fan of his right from the beginning. I'd taken it for granted that he was a better singer than me. No artiste has ever been able to modulate his voice according to the words like Rafi saab did."

Mohd Rafi had the longest career spanning four decades, between the 1940s to the 1980s, singing in Hindi and many Indian regional languages, including Marathi and Gujarati. But not many know that he had also recorded two English albums with English translations of his hits Hum kale hai to kya hua dilwale hai and Bahaaron phool barsao.

Rafi is said to have sung for nearly 100 actors. Some of the Hindi actors he has sung for are: Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor (although Mukesh sang most of his songs), Rajendra Kumar, Guru Dutt, Biswajeet, Joy Mukherjee, Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Johnny Walker, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Pradeep Kumar, Raj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Navin Nischol among others. Watch Rafi and friends

With equal ease, Rafi sang ghazals, bhajans, classical, folk and qawwalis. When he had to sing a bhajan, he would do the namaaz and ask God to give him the strength to sing it well. And surely so, his bhajans make you feel God resides within him, and within you.

But towards the late 1970s, his career started spiralling downwards and he lost out to Kishore Kumar. At some point, Rafi was so dejected that he went off to London for a few months, turning into a recluse. But that did not mean he had bitter feelings towards Kishore. They remained friends.

Next Page: Rafi's good deeds

The Good Samaritan
Mohd Rafi believed in giving as much as he received. Many industry veterans still recall his good deeds. Not only was he humble, but also very helpful to the needy — which did not necessarily mean the urchins on the road, but his colleagues, his friends, anybody. A close friend of Rafi said that every month, packets of Rs 200/300 or more used to be dispatched to the singer's struggling friends, upcoming music directors, and the like. It was all betweenRafi and the person. Nobody knew where the money came from!

Music director Pyarelal of the Laxmikant-Pyarelal also remembers how "Rafisahib" had given Rs 500 to his father in their "bad times". Like that, Rafi has sung for many producers for a minuscule amount and sometimes completely for free. When Pyarelal worked with Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar later, Rafi didn't even remember lending the money, while Lata did. But both of them didn't take any money from him and blessed him. The duo is known to be the mentor of Laxmi-Pyare, but it was Rafi who unconditionally helped them all the way, according to industry insiders.

Pyarelal further adds, "We (Laxmikant and he) worked with Rafi in our debut film Parasmani...Rafi agreed to do it despite low budgets and unknown names. We considered Rafi as our mentor. The whole world knows we shared the best working rapport with Rafi and Lataji." According to him, perhaps Rafi has sung the maximum number of songs with Laxmi-Pyare. During the Kishore Kumar wave in the '70s, the musician duo stood by Rafi.

Before Kishore Kumar started on playback, it was Mohd Rafi who sang for him in movies like Raagini, Baaghi Shehzaada, and Shararat.

Rafi also sang three songs for only Rs 100 for Roshanlal, assistant of music director Ravi. He said, "Mera toh ho gaya, abhi tum aage badho (I'm done with (in terms of career), now you go ahead)."

Next Page: An interview with Rafi's son

The singer's only surviving son, Shahid Rafi, spoke to buzz18.com about his legendary father. Excerpts from the chat:

How was Rafi as a father?
Dad was very down-to-earth, as everybody knows, and a fantastic human being. He was an excellent father. He did everything for the family. Whenever he had free time, he spent with the family, and never socialised much.

As children, were you made conscious of his status as one of the country's best singers?
He kept the family away from the limelight. He always used to say, "Nobody is great in the world. It all comes from God. Whether you are rich or poor, always be down-to-earth".

Did he ever compel you to be a singer?
Not at all. In fact, he kept us away from it all. He encouraged us to do whatever we wanted to. We were seven siblings, and brought up in a very normal way.

Do you do anything special on this day? Do you have a foundation in Rafi's name?
We just pray at home. We don't do anything special as such. There are thousands of foundations in my father's name around the world.

What does his greatness mean to you?
He was a great person, a great father, a great singer, and all I can say is, I'm very proud to be his son.

Was he religious?
He was very god-fearing. He was a very busy man so although he didn't read the namaaz five times a day, he did it whenever he had the time.


Next Page: Mahendra Kapoor on the legend

Mahendra Kapoor, veteran playback singer

On his contemporary, Mohd Rafi
I haven't exactly been Rafiji's contemporary. I have been his student. Rafisaab used to stay in Bhendi Bazaar (Mumbai) when I first met him as a 13-year-old. He was a noble soul, simple and down-to-earth and I have learnt a lot from him. He had no vices and never did he haggle over money with his producers. I have tried to emulate him as much as possible.

On Rafi overshadowing his contemporaries like Talat Mehmood
You cannot hide talent. And he was far better than any of his contemporary singers. I am not saying this because he was my guru. I mean it.

When Kishore Kumar took over
The '70s were all about Kishore Kumar. There were times when Rafisaab had little or no work. Those days were very bad. He had withdrawn into his apartment and refused to meet anyone. When I went to see him, he sounded very dejected and told me how the producers who would earlier come knocking at his door are now withKishore Kumar.

He may have felt hurt, but he wasn't ever bitter about this. In fact, Kishoreda and he were very good friends. They never discussed work when they met.

It was Manmohan Desai who brought Mohammed Rafi back. He was Rafisaab's fan and got him to sing in Amar Akbar Anthony and Dharam Veer.

Fondest memory
Rafisaab's career was at its peak. Baiju Bawra had just released. I had won some singing competition at that time. Rafisaab's brother, Hamidbhai told him about it. He was so happy, he promised to fly me down to Calcutta. I had never travelled by air before. It was an experience I will never forget. He had a performance in Eden Gardens. 25,000 people had gathered to listen to him. Hamidbhai suggested that I should sing with him. It was the first time I sang in public and the icing on the cake was that it was with Rafisaab.

Mahendra Kapoor picks his favourite songs of Rafi
There was a bhajan, Tere bharose aye nandlala, which was a private recording. Besides that, there is also a ghazal, which was composed by Khayyam: Ghazab kiya tere wade pe bharosa kiya.

Next Page: Controversies and Trivia


Controversies
In 1960, there was a rift between Rafi and colleague Lata Mangeshkar. She wanted him to support him over song royalty issues, but he didn't believe in getting royalties from the producer and was happy with getting only his fees.

Another controversy arose when Lata Mangeshkar's name was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for singing the maximum number of songs in a lifetime by any singer – over 25,000. Rafi challenged the claim and said that he'd sung more than that – nearly 28,000. His name was later added to the Book. As of now, both names have been removed from the records. But in spite of their differences, we cannot help but notice that the Lata-Rafi duo have delivered the greatest hits and sung almost 500 songs together.

Also, there is a lot of resentment among Rafi fans that he was not honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. A Bangladeshi journalist in the newspaper Daily Star rued the fact that Rafi was only honoured with the Padma Shri, while Lata Mangeshkar had been bestowed with the Bharat Ratna.

Rafi Trivia
Rafi was a god-fearing and humble human being. They say when he went to Haj he was given the honour of leading the proceedings. Not even a handful of people get a chance to do that. But his mesmerising voice had made him the chosen one all over the world.

Children of his apartment block in Mumbai used to run after Rafi, asking him to sing for them. They wouldn't let him go. Rafi would give them tenners to buy chocolates instead.

Such a singer, and human being, is born once in a lifetime.

Pictures courtesy: The Rafi Foundation

Do you think Mohd Rafi is the greatest singer India has produced? Share your thoughts.



Dear gopal ranjon ji feeling blessed to read about rafi
sahab from u....His memories became so real..Plz share few
more allegory from his life..I` would be indebted....
the world need to know him...
thank you very much...May god bless u.....
n peace to divine soul of rafi sahab!
Ashera Dec 30, 2009 at 11:23 PM

It is very difficult to come to any conclusion about the
good and kind deeds of rafi sahib. During his life span he
had donated countless money to poor and needy, also it seems
that when he was alive he used to send funds to needy and
poor families of nearly 350 families in india.

also once after recording a song in some studio in bombay,
the producer handed over a cover containing cash for his
song, as rafi saheb was coming out of the studio, some
muslim approached him for donation for building a mosque,
immediatly without any second thought rafi saheb handed over
the cover containing cash which was given by the producer to
them. This shows his broad minded ness and his kind heart.
It is a gift that the world has got in rafi saheb today
even after 29 long years, its truly unbeleivable to accept
that he his not with us, and his family is shattered also
his 3 sons are no more and his house rafi mansion is
converted into apartments among which 2 apartments are sold
to outsiders. If rafi saheb would have been alive today
things would have been so much different totally. With
today s music and the songs are not worth listening as it
contain nothing but loud noises and filthy meaning. The
movie world has no passion for upgrading humanity but they
are now in the process of making money and only money.
Where ever rafi saheb is i pray the alimighty he should take
rebirth again and come back to this world and i feel such
souls are born only once in a million years.
gopal sunder rajan Nov 21, 2009 at 04:33 PM

The voice so silky and so penetrable into the hearts of
millions of people around the world is none than the great
immortal singer mohd. Rafi saheb whose songs had been
listening since my childhood till today it sounds fresh as
flowers and its fragrance is scattered four corners of the
globe. He was not an ordinary singer, something divine with
him. I had been listening and singing his songs as
inspiration for the past 40 years, still i feel his songs
fresh as yesterday. His stature and magnanimity is towering
and unspeakable depths of his singing style allures many
clones to follow his foot steps but few has suceeded, among
them i can name anwar who is close to his voice range. My
allah rest his soul in peace.
Hamid Ali Khan May 03, 2009 at 07:12 PM

Mohammad rafi saeb is a saint,being a christain i used to
hate muslims,,,,but one day i listend to voice in a couple
of his english song it was enchanting i lost in it,,,,,,then
satarted learning indian languages and raagas but stopped as
i`m only concerned with this saint`s voice who is saint in
song as well as in real life,,,,his words flow so as smooth
nothing else can be imagined,,,greatest!
Kate Dec 26, 2008 at 12:32 AM

For rafi saab even a barat ratna is too small an award.For
me he is meant for saint hood. An angelic face with a lovely
smile,blessed r those who came in contact with him.How i
wish his presence in these times of violence and strife.
Vinod Sep 30, 2008 at 12:09 PM

It is a stupid question that was rafi shab a truly genius?
Any dout that he was not a genios person.He was a great and
legend singer of our great india.His place will be always
blank than this world still.His memorial song will be live
in our hart.
boby saifi Sep 09, 2008 at 02:58 PM

Mohammed rafi saheb, more than a genious, people of all
generation love his voice. Rafi saheb is the best singer
india has produced and there will be no singer like him.
Long live rafi saheb.
Hussein Sheikh Aug 06, 2008 at 04:26 AM

Today it has been 28 years since "aawaz ke jaadugar
" mohd rafi left for heavenly abode.Every year,on this
day , i carry radio to my office where i connect it to my
computer speakers to listen to programmes on mohd
rafi.Luckily,i could listen to programme broadcasted from
11am-12pm in the comfort of my home due to jammu bandh.It
was really a nice programme with excellent presentation.As
we all know that rafi sahab sang all possible varities of
songs,let it be
sentimental,light,classical,semi-classical,bhajans,shabads,n
aatia kalam,qwallis,patriotic,comedy,melody,gazals etc in
about 24 languages including
punjabi,sindhi,bengali,englishetc both filmi and non
filmi.Name any singer except rafi who has all types of
feathers in his hat.
also, the "akashvaani" has the largest
collection of songs of rafi, it is expected on 31st july
from the program managers to compile and broadcast the
unique gems from their valueable treasure which are lesser
known instead of more popular songs which are regularly
broadcasted in a number of programs
rajneesh raina Aug 01, 2008 at 03:59 PM

Rafi saab is not less than god as far as music and singing
is concerned. Moreover he was a great soul non controvertial
person in the entire film industry.
yagnesh shastri Jul 28, 2008 at 05:11 PM

Yes

indeed, rafi sahab is truely genious and greate singer.
Till date there is no replacement for him. I hate his
clones. But on thing i noticed that his fans or supporters
hate lata and i do not like this. I think both of them are
god's special creation.
Meenu Jul 16, 2008 at 03:14 PM



Testimony of this fact is that he has had hits with all the
music directors of his time.The same cant be said abt
kishore da whose most hits came from sd or rd burman !!!
Suman Chakraborty Jul 12, 2008 at 02:58 PM

Yes, rafi saheb is truely genius without doubt. No one can
replace him. Kishore kumar was not even close to rafi saheb.
Hussein Sheikh May 22, 2008 at 03:29 AM

Vey well said by pravin. He is truely a genius. I am a great
fan of rafi saab and whenever i feel down or depressed i
switch on to his voice and after repeatedly listening the
same song for 20 times i never feel bored. That's the
greatness of his voice. I can not tribute any thing to his
voice. He is truely the greatest singer india has produced.

tanweer
S I Tanweer Apr 12, 2008 at 05:41 PM

He was one of the greatest singer.
Pradeep Bhat Mar 23, 2008 at 04:15 PM

Rafi sahib is
not less than god
hajinder kaur Mar 12, 2008 at 02:58 PM

Hi.

indeed rafi sahab was, is the greatest singer india has
produced and the only one (lata included) who will outlast
time.

there is no comparison that can be even attempted with
other singers, he transcends time.

what a epitome of modesty when you know you are the voice
of god, i have tried many a times to understand how someone
could have a voice so eternal, so beyond belief, so alive
and limitless, i just conclude he was blessed.

he is the beginning and end of playback singing, the
yardstick to great singing.

no adjectives can portray the fenceless capability of this
true voice.

long live rafi sahab.

all hail the monarch of melody.

peace.

prav.
Pravin Dec 25, 2007 at 09:28 AM

He was god.
Amit Oct 21, 2007 at 03:06 AM

Rafi is simply great... More than a singer, he was a great
human being... His simplicity comes out when i heard one of
his past interviews aired sometime back
his voice has the grip and sur onlya seasoned singer could
accomplish... He is like a serene river flowing quitely if
at all you have to compare him with kishore who is like a
river in spate... Rafi's versatility is somehow bound within
the realm of classical music whereas kishore had created his
own music whch transcends classism.... Rafi is a replica of
the traditional world and kisore epitomises the modern
world.... For me the old is always gold...
ved
ved Aug 02, 2007 at 06:38 PM

Rafi was and will continue to be an inspiration for
generations.
excellent article that tries to showcase a voice that
moulded quite a few careers.
rafi was a past master in voice modulation to suit the
character and personality of actors. Johny walker owed quite
a bit of his success to rafi who rendered a special tone for
him in songs like 'tel maalish...' shammi kapoor will always
be remembered for his flamboyance which was embellished with
the signature 'yahooo' exuberance. Rajendra 'jubilee' kumar
had the benefit of the master's voice that created the
romantic hero persona. When dev anand sang on screen it was
as if a special, mellifluous voice was created to weave it's
magic on spellbound audiences. Singers of today have a lot
to learn about voice modulation from the maestro.
Balu Aug 01, 2007 at 07:12 PM

After a long time got to read an truly amazing article on
rafi. Sahab. He was and will remain a genius
Anjali Jul 31, 2007 at 01:11 PM



Rafi is the best. All others are so so...

all the good singers of recent times have liked rafi much
more than kishore kumar
Anand Jul 31, 2007 at 10:53 AM

The most versatile voice of rafi will live ever with us. As
a human being he was the most kind person. As a child i hv
always observes many people at his compound door everyday
which i hv not seen at the door of yufuf khan saheb - the
great hero of our time. Salaam rafi saheb.
DIVECHA M B Jul 31, 2007 at 07:37 AM