50 Years of Active Practice!! A Landmark

Landmarks are there to be made.

Today I witnessed a unique Landmark.. (there may be Many more similar cases but Unique for our Family).

My Uncle (Kaka) Shripad Narayanrao Dhanagare, Advocate High Court Nagpur completed 50 years of Active Practice.

The third and youngest son of eminent Lawyer Adv.N.R.Dhanagare , was the only sibling who took up his profession in Law.

He joined Law College Nagpur in 1970 after completing his  BA in Amravati and Passed out as an Advocate in September 1973.

He started Practice on the auspicious day of Navratra Ghatasthapana on 27th September 1973 at Washim ( Then Akola District)

Initially he assisted his father (my grandfather) for a year or so. The motto of both was the same ..to help the needy and downtrodden bylarge.

But 1975 was a turning point as Emergency and MISA were declared and my Grandfather was arrested being an active member of the RSS.

Suddenly all responsibility fell on Shripad Kaka, to manage the cases and also to manage the family.

He ably managed the same and it was indeed a case of Baptism by fire.

Emergency was lifted in 1977 and same year in November he married Shyama (my Kaku). Since then she has been his biggest support and  almost a backbone..more so after my grandparents passed away. He had self belief and followed the golden rule that "You can’t survive on the reputation of your father.  You have to make one for yourself "

After serving in Washim for 20 years..he took the call of shifting to Nagpur where he took up the challange in High Court. Being an idealist, intellectually inclined, he tried to visualize all the professional challenges that lay ahead and took the step

That was in 1993.

Since then he has been practicing successfully in Nagpur. 

The journey over the last half century has been incredible for him. So satisfying and constructive.  He got an opportunity to handle all types of cases , including Corporate Legal consulting.

He has two daughters Renuka Dhanagare-Bhadang and Devika Dhanagare-Saodekar .

Both married and well settled but that also left Kaka and Kaku alone at Nagpur.

(That's a Universal truth ).

And now today he completes 50 years of Active Practice. The last few years being a bit testing due to health reasons.

Our family and I wish him and Kaku All the best for the future

Tribute to Kishore Kumar on his 94th Birth Anniversary : Published on Movie Speak on 4th August 2023

Today is the 94th

Birth Anniversary of Kishore Kumar.

Singer, actor, lyricist, Music composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter, Kishore Kumar born and named Aabhas Kumar Ganguly (4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was/is one of the crowning Jewels of the Indian Film Industry. Winner of 8 Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer, he holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won for that category. He remains immortal .. a born genius who is with us with his melodies for ever.

In his career spanning 41 years (1946 to 1987) He sang over 2500 songs.

Let's Play a A to Z of Kishore Kumar Songs..

Iam sure we will find songs from almost every alphabet.

A: Aa Chal Ke Tujhe main Leke 

B: Babu Samjho Ishaare Horn 

C: Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet

D: Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisi Ko

E : Eena Meena Deeka / Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si

F : Foolon Ke Rang Se

( I know it's a Ph but couldn't find one with F)

G: Gaadi Bula Rahi hai

H: Hamen Tumse Pyaar Kitna

I : Inteha Ho gayi Intezaar Ki

J: Jahan Teri Yeh Nazar Hain

K: Koi Hamdam Na Raha Koi Sahara

L: Le Jayenge Le Jayenge 

M : Musafir Hoon Yaaron

N: Nafrat Karne Waalon Ke 

O: O Mere Dil Ke Chain.

P: Pyaar Maanga Hain Tumhi Se

Q : Qasam Khao Tum Ek Baar 

R: Ruk Jaana Nahin Tu Kahin Haar 

S: Sama Hain Suhana Suhana 

T: Tum Bin Jaoon Kahan

U: Uparwale Tera Jawab Nehin

V : Vaada Karo Jaanam / Vaada Karo Nahin Chhodoge 

W : Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thee

 

X : No song ?

Y : Ye Jawani Hai Deewani / Yeh jeewan Hain Iss Jeewan Ka

Z : Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai

Make your own list..

These are top of mind selections.

Hope you like this novel Idea.

Couldn't find a song with X and F.

Amjad Khan: Memories and Tributes

Today is the 31st Death Anniversary of Amjad Khan.

Another brilliant actor lost early.

He was not even 52 when he passed in 1992.

Son of actor Jayant ( Zakaria Khan)

Amjad started as a child actor in films like Ab Dilli Door Nahin.

His first adult appearance being as a Pakistani Pilot in Chetan Anands Hindustan Ki Kasam.

However his passport to fame was his immortal role as Gabbar Singh in SHOLAY.

Infact he was almost an unknown face in the caravan of stars when the film started substituting Danny

But he carved a niche for himself and Gabbar remains his most memorable role.

Sholay was followed by Charas 

where he played the Sauve Robert.

Amjad suffered a serious accident in 1976. The drugs administered to him caused a lifelong weight issue for the actor.But he was an actor who was blessed with the kind of talent which could tide over the most threatening circumstances and overcome.

He became so popular in demand that he did ,11 movies in 1977.

Which include three Super hits 

Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin, Parvarish and Inkaar.

He also acted in Satyajit Ray's 

Shatranj Ke Khiladi written by Munshi Premchand as a Nawab whose kingdom was under siege from the British colonial rulers.

Khan’s incomparable diction, which he meticulously practiced, mannerisms and adaptation got him many roles as the villain. However he did get different roles ( Comic and Emotional both ) which helped him to be versatile.

His comic touch was so evident in films like Qurbani and Love story.

He even played characters which were stronger and more popular than the heroes of films, especially films like Dada, Commander and Pyaara Dushman. 

He had a successful pairing with Amitabh Bachchan with whom he did 18 films almost all of them being hits.

Amjad Khan was one actor who could switch on to play nine different characters in nine different films shot in just one day. 

He was only interested in giving the people the kind of enlightening entertainment of which he was an expert par excellence.

He never went after awards and recognition and won just three Filmfare awards for Dada, Yaarana and Maa kasam where as he had done many better roles earlier.

He briefly ventured into direction too

This first Adhura Aadmi was completed but not released and he produced and directed a couple of movies — Chor Police (1983) and Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1985).

Both films were mauled by the censor board for flimsy reasons and that affected their continuity and presentation.

Amjad Khan was a very bitter man after both his films flopped at the box -office and was never the same man again. 

To add to his woes a film he planned with Amitabh Bachchan

Lambai Chaudai was shelved due to Amitabh Bachchan's sudden Hietus.

The last role he played was that of an old Maharaja lying on his death bed in an art film called Rudaali.

(Some delayed films however released after his death like Soutela Bhai, Aatank and Do Funtoosh where his brother Imtiaz dubbed for him).

He came, He conquered and He left.

Will miss him and his unique mannerisms always..like

'Hello Hello ji "in Chor Police

'Ludka Ludki" in Love Story

' I Like it ' in Qurbani &

Many more

Above all his dialogues from Sholay remain etched in our hearts for ever.

Please do add any anecdotes and Trivia.

Bibliography: Remembering Amjad Khan by Ali Peter John.

The Bond of Two Brothers.

Today is the Birth Anniversary of my elder uncle Anna (Kaka or Chacha), Born 1934 he was a couple of years older than my father whose birth anniversary fell just two weeks back on 15th July.

Both the brothers shared a great bond ..Dad ( Bhau as he was called by his siblings) used to share their stories of School days and beyond but the true gelling began when they were both together in Nagpur for their Graduation and Post Graduation. They lived together and shared almost everything.. Anna was a sickler for English, in fact he is largely responsible for the proficiency in English that Daddy had mastered (and subsequently me too).

Anna developed in Daddy the habit of reading and reading aloud. He encouraged him to start writing too. They shared a lot of time together, right from cooking, going out and also seeing movies. (Movies were something imbibed genetically as my Grandmother was also fond of films and all the genes passed on to me ).

They got married on the same day in July just 3 mins apart ( in short they could not attend each other's marriage persay).

There were both the rare breeds having their Birthdays and Anniversaries in the same month ( Mom's Birthday added to the list )

The story of my father's marriage is a different chapter all together.

They were pretty inseparable, but while Anna settled in Amravati, Daddy moved on to Agra, USA, later Kanpur, England and finally Pune.

Always in touch very constructively argumentative with each other they were still very close.

They faced a lot of ups and downs individually but came up triumphed most of the time.

I was also ironically closely associated with Anna as for my Graduation I was in Amravati and he was my Local Guardian. He has his own way of getting things done and inspiring people.

He believed that if anyone is challenged that person has a higher probability of succeeding. His ways may have been sarcastic but he always meant the best.

His support to me during my courtship with my future wife (who was incidentally his best friend's daughter ) was invaluable.

Time waits for no one and in 2004 my Aunt ( Kaku) left us for her heavenly abode and just 4 years later my mother joined her (both after acute illness and testing Times for Anna and Dad).

Anna crossed 80 and used to not keep well.. after fighting it out he breathed his last in 2016 just a couple of months before his grand niece and my daughter was to get married. 

I remember Dad was broken after that.. he has lost the second closest person to him after my mother. It was as if he lived to see Sneha get married and a year later he also succumbed to his suddenly developed cardiac and nephro illness. Possibly now together in their heavenly abode.

July makes me emotional..

The bond they shared is something rare..

So they were born two years apart , Stayed together till they married minutes apart and finally passed a year apart.

There is so much to share possibly some other time.

अण्णा भाऊ तुम्ही नक्की एकत्र आहत 🙏🏻

HUM HAIN RAAHI PYAAR KE

हम है राही प्यार के हम से कुछ न बोलिए

Sang Dev Anand in Nau Do Gyarah..(1957)

The song was used in Dil Hain Ki Maanta Nahin (1991) playing in the background as Aamir Khan's car is being repaired and Aamir has a playful dance with the runaway Pooja ( Bhatt). This was directed by Mahesh Bhatt..

Two years later this was released as a full film directed by Mahesh Bhatt with Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla

HUM HAIN RAHI PYAR KE COMPLETES 30 YEARS TODAY.

Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla were then considered as one of the most popular on-screen couples of the 90s. They were first seen together in the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988). Their chemistry was loved by all, as they later went on to become one of the favourite on-screen pairs of several filmmakers as well.

They did 7 or 8 films together and I would rate this film as the best.

HHRPK is an innocent, fun film also having its strong emotional moments.

The story is simple; Aamir plays Rahul whose brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident. Besides the family business, he now has to look after his two nephews and a niece, who can be quite a handful. Juhi, on the other hand, is a Tamil girl ( Vaijayanti )whose strict father is forcing her into a marriage that she opposes (with a groom Natarajan who dances Bharatanatyam).

She runs off and ends up meeting the kids Aamir is looking after at a fair. They play tricks together and she ends up telling the kids her unfortunate situation; no place to go spend the night. The kids agree to let her stay over at their house, and Aamir discovers a new housemate the next morning..

The is a sub plot of Mushtaque Khan  (Aamir's Manager  Khan) "Humara full name BP Mishra hai. Hum Japan se training lekar aaya hoon", with his hilarious English. And also Dilip Tahil as Bijlani ( who wants to take over the company)and Navneet Nishan as Maya ( His daughter having a crush on Aamir).

Juhi and Aamir naturally have excellent chemistry , and comic timing and Juhi especially portrays her character very well - I believe she won her first Filmfare award for this one.

This review will be incomplete without a mention of the melodious  music of this movie. One of the best scores of Nadeem Shravan indeed. Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik have given elite singing performances. YUNHI KAT JAYEGA SAFAR  ,The song GHOONGHAT KI AAD SE - made Alka Yagnik a very common household name.  Sadhana Sargam got only one song in this movie - a sad song - WOH MERI NEEND MERA CHAIN MUJHE LAUTA DO, The TITLE song and CHIKNI SURAT are fun songs . For the fourth consecutive year, Nadeem Shravan were nominated for the Filmfare best music director Award for this movie but they lost out to Anu Malik for Baazigar.

Just writing about the film makes me want to rewatch it!

Suchitra Sen..The Enchantress

The original Paro of Bimal Roy’s classic Devdas breathed her last today 9 years  ago. She was 82 years old…

Suchitra Sen, the first Bengali actress  to have garnered an international award at the Moscow Film Festival in 1962, breathed her last on January 17, 2014  in Kolkata. 

Known for her effortless charm and inimitable style, Sen made her movie debut with Shesh Kothaay in 1952, but the production was never released. In the next year she acted opposite Uttam Kumar in Nirmal Dey’s Sharey Chuattor. The film was a box-office hit and launched Uttam-Suchitra as a leading pair. The duo went on to become icons for Bengali dramas for more than two decades.

In 1955 Sen received the Best Actress Award for her portrayal of Paro in Bimal Roy’s classic Devdas. She went on to work in various Bengali and Hindi movies thereafter, but it was her role in Aandhi opposite Sanjeev Kumar that helped her bag a Filmfare Best Actress nomination.

Suchitra Sen combined understated sensuality, feminine charm and emotive force and a no-nonsense gravitas to carve out a persona that has never been matched, let alone surpassed in Indian cinema.

Who can forget Devdas, Aandhi, Bambai Ka Babu ..

Deewana Mastana Hua Dil..

Goosebumps!!

रहें न रहें हम महका करेंगे बन के कली

बन के सबा बाग-ए-वफा में

very true 

She was instrumental in coining the phrase of eternal Bengali Beauty..

Her legacy lives on in daughter Moon Moon Sen and Grand Daughters Raima and Ria.

Raima looks a split image of Suchitra Sen but the similarity ends there

NEEYAT A WHODUNNIT WITH A DIFFRENCE.

 

FIRST DAY REVIEW

NEEYAT

A NEAR PERFECT WHODUNNIT

When an exiled on the run multibillionaire Ashish Kapoor ( AK) ( Ram Kapoor guised on “The Kingfisher” ) hires a Mountaintop Scottish Castle /Mansion to host his birthday and mysteriously dies , all his family and friends are prime suspects, each with a motive to kill him. CBI Officer Mira Rao who has initially come to extradite him must use her skills and deductive acumen to solve the murder.

Neeyat is loosely taken the essence of “Knives Out” (2019)and Agatha Christie's "And then there were None "but is not a remake or copy. After an introductory bit slowish start it does picks up and changes to a racy plot with twists and turns

Everything matters that is going on and no sequence is wasted. There may be a few loopholes but I suppose they can be accepted .

Anu Menon who directed Shakuntala with Vidya Balan. The humour is something that always lands nicely without taking away anything from the moment. She knows what she is doing.

Vidya Blan is a class apart .The art of being a player, even from the background, is something that Vidya Balan knows too well. For an actor of her stature, underplaying herself doesn’t come easy to get and she does that so well. For some this might seem like a dull act, but it works so well in the situation. She is as clueless as the audience, so she is out eyes in this situation.

Ram Kapoor carries out his role without going over the top even after having many shades.

Rahul Bose plays his Character with a comic touch. In his party-hearty no-gooder act. Shashank Arora stands out as the junkie and troubled son of AK, and his dialogue timing is impeccable. Neeraj Kabi and Niki Walia also deserve mention. The other actors do their parts well.

It's a good attempt and the craftsmanship shows. Somehow it cant but help you be reminded of. Gumnaam (1965)

Cant add anything more at the risk of giving spoilers.

See It if you like

Whodunnits.