PRITHVIRAJ KAPOORJI'S MEMORABLE PUNJABI FILM!

On today's Guru Nanak Jayanti, remembered legendary Punjabi film 'Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai' which won National Award 50 years ago!

Family scene of Punjabi film 'Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai' (1969).

In 1969, Panna Lal Maheshwary and Ram Singh produced this film which was directed by Ram - Maheshwary. Based on true incident, its family story was written by Bekal Amritsari!

Our great actor.. Prithviraj Kapoor portrayed head of family in this film. Artists accompanied him in main roles were Veena, Nishi, I. S. Johar, Som Dutt, Suresh & pretty Vimi!

Pretty Vimi with co-actor in 'Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai' (1969)

This film won two National - Awards includes Best Feature - Film in Punjabi' and 'Best Music Direction' for S. Mohinder!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

LIV'S GREAT ACTING!

This is a picture of great Norwegian Actress Liv Ullmann's powerful performance from renowned Swedish Filmmaker Ingmar Bergman's 'Skammen' ('Shame'/1968).

This great film showed an impact of war on creative artists!
Still strong contemporary!

This frame showed beautiful Liv Ullmann's in-depth acting through her eyes.
Without words she conveyed a lot in it!

Liv is one of my most favourite actresses of world cinema.
Our fine actress Shabana Azmi also admire her a lot.
And Bollywood star Amir Khan too!

She is now 80+
Soon I will write special article on her!

- Manoj Kulkarni

BIRTH CENTENARY OF BEAUTIFUL SETSUKO!

Japanese Beautiful Actress Setsuko Hara!

This is a Birth Centenary year of legendary pretty Actress of Japanese Cinema..Setsuko Hara!

Setsuko Hara with co-artists in Ozu's film 'Tokyo Story' (1953).

Best known for her performances in renowned filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu's films like 'Late Spring' (1949) and 'Tokyo Story' (1953). Hara had already appeared in 67 films before working with him. She starred in great Akira Kurosawa's film 'No regrets for our Youth' (1946) too!

Still remember her.. great performance in Ozu's masterpiece.. 'Tokyo Story'..in which she played a widow..whose husband was killed in war and her devotion towards her in-laws who insist that she should remarry!..Touched the heart!!

Tribute to this beautiful legend!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

This time there is really 'Thanks giving Day' for America!

So, Thanks & Regards!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'SPORTS OSCARS' HOLDERS!

Legends of Soccer..Pele & Maradona..with 'Sports Oscars'!

"Hope we'll play together in sky!"

An emotional homage from one legend to another of Soccer!

Brazilian great football player Pele expressed his emotions on the death of Argentine great football player Maradona!

Coincidentlly both celebrated their birthdays last month. 80th of Pele and 60th of Maradona!

Both won 'Sports Oscars' in 1987!

And there are films made on them!

Tribute to their friendship!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

SOCCER LEGEND NO MORE!

Argentina's football player Diego Maradona!

Argentina's giant football player Diego Maradona passed away yesterday!

Renowned film maker Asif - Kapadia made documentary on him 'Maradona' was screened at 'Cannes Film Festival' last year!

 Homage to great Maradona!!


- Manoj Kulkarni

There should not be political influence (or benefit) in selecting entry film for 'Oscar'!
But these years it happens!

- Manoj Kulkarni

It's 'World Television Day' which began in 1996. 

Same year I began writing film based programmes for Television. 1st was aired on Zee TV (Hindi).

- Manoj Kulkarni

CENTENARY OF CHIDANANDABABU!

Film critic & historian Chidandanda Dashgupta!

Today is 99th Birth Anniversary of film critic, historian and one of the pioneers of film society movement..Chidandanda Dashgupta!

Actress-filmmaker Aparna Sen with father Chidananda Dashgupta!

He founded 'Calcutta Film Society' with our renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray in 1947. They took initiative to form. the 'Federation of Film Societies of India' in 1959.

He also made some films like 'Portrait of a City' (1961). His daughter famous.. Bengali actress & filmmaker Aparna Sen & granddaughter actress Konkona Sen-Sharma acted in he wrote-directed film 'Amodini' (1994).

In 2004, Chidananda Dashgupta was - felicitated with 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in 'Osian Film Festival'!

Long back, I met Chidanandababu during 'FFSI' function at Pune!

Humble Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

RUNA LAILA..SINGING SENSATION!

Bangladeshi Singer-Composer Runa Laila is singing in concert!

"O mera babu chail chabila main to nachungi.."
"Dama dam mast qalandar.."

Through these songs she first got fame in our India!
Its 68th birthday of that, one of the famous personalities in South Asian music world.. Bangladeshi Singer-Composer Runa Laila!

Young & beautiful Bangladeshi Singer Runa Laila!

Inspired by Pakistani singer Ahmed Rushdi; in 1966 Runa Laila started her playback singing career there. First for Urdu film 'Hum Dono' she sung "Unki nazron se mohabbat ka jo paigham mila.."

In 1974 she shifted to Bangladesh and then learnt classical music from her elder sister Dina Laila! There she first sung title song of Bengali film 'Jibon Shanti' (1976). Meanwhile she came to our India for concert & sung for 'Doordarshan' also!

Here also she first sung title song of Bollywood film 'Ek se badhkar ek' (1976) which was hit! Then she sung in the music composition of Jaidev for film 'Gharonda' (1977) and its her song "Tumhe ho na ho mujhko to itna yakeen hai.." became popular! Then she sung for films here like 'Jaan-e-bahaar' (1976), 'Yaadgaar' (1984) & 'Sapnon ka Mandir' (1991).

Our Indian Singer Asha Bhosle & Bangladeshi Singer Runa Laila!

 

Runa Lailaji won.. Bangladesh's 'Best - Playback Singer - National Award' 7 times, in which - includes for films.. 'Jadur Banshi' (1977), 'Ontore Ontore' - (1994), 'Devdas' - (2013) & 'Priya tumi shukhi hou' (2014). And she won 'Best - Music Composer - Award' for film 'Ekti Cinemar Golpo' - (2018) in which our Bengali pretty actress Rituparna Sengupta acted!

Rituparna Sengupta acted..

'Ekti Cinemar Golpo' (2018).

Runa Lailaji sung in many languages and her name included in 'Guinness World Records' for recording 30 songs within 3 days!

Best Wishes..Runa Laila!ji!

Salgirah Mubarak!!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni 

INDIRECT CONNECTION TO BOLLYWOOD-HOLLYWOOD!

Waheeda Rehman & Soumitra Chatterjee in Satyajit Ray's 'Abhijan' (1962).

Soumitra Chatterjee in 'Abhijan' (1962)

Legendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee did not act in Hindi films; but once indirectly linked to bollywood! He worked with famous actress from Bombay film industry..Waheeda Rehman in Satyajit Ray's movie.. 'Abhijan' (1962). That was also Waheedaji's entry in Bengali cinema!

Robert De Niro & Martin Scorsese during 'Taxi Driver' (1976)

There was another special thing about this Ray's film with different genre. Its Soumitrada's character was a influence for protagonist of renowned film maker Martin - Scorsese's movie 'Taxi Driver' - (1976). Famous Hollywood actor Robert De Niro played that role. Scorsese himself mentioned that, Ray's original film inspired him to make this movie!

So that's it!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

GREAT COMBINATION!!

Great Actor Soumitra Chatterjee & Great Filmmaker Satyajit Ray!

Like Ingmar Bergman & Max Von Sydow (Sweden), François Truffaut & Jean Pierre Leaud (France), Federico Fellini & Marcello Mastroianni (Itali) and Akira Kurosawa & Toshiro Mifune (Japan)..

World Cinema viewers knows Great Filmmaker and Actor combination of our India..Satyajit Ray and Soumitra Chatterjee! They did 14 films together from 'Apur Sansar' (1959) to 'Shakha Proshakha' (1990).

They are in heaven now!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

STRONG FEMALE PROTAGONISTS OF 'APU TRILOGY'!

Sharmila Tagore as Aparna in Ray's 'Apur Sansar' (1959).

Karuna Banerjee as Sarbajaya in 'Aparajito' (1956).

Though our great filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Trilogy is centered on Apu; I think strong Female Characters of these films makes deep impact!

See Durga (Runki Banerjee-child & Uma Dasgupta-teenager) in 'Pather Panchali' (1955) Sarbajaya (Karuna Banerjee) in 'Aparajito' (1956) and Aparna (Sharmila Tagore) in 'Apur Sansar' (1959).

Manikda often showed intensity about female protagonist in his films like 'Mahanagar' (1963) and his favourite 'Charulata' (1964).

Uma Dasgupta as teenager Durga in 'Pather Panchali' (1955)

So we should remember 'Apu Trilogy' from that point of view also!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

END OF APUR SANSAR!

BELOVED, GREAT BENGALI ACTOR..SOUMITRA CHATTERJEE LEFT THIS WORLD!

REMEMBERED MEETING IN FILM FESTIVAL!

HUMBLE HOMAGE!!

- MANOJ KULKARNI

CHILDREN PROTAGONISTS OF WORLD CINEMA! 

On this 'Children Day', I am recollecting some important children images from the World Cinema..!

Notable that, great trendsetters films narrated the stories through the.. Eyes of Children!

Rinaldo Smordoni & Franco Interlenghi in Vittorio De Sica's Italian film 'Shoe Shine' (1946).

Ratan Kumar & Baby Naaz in 'RK's Prakash Arora directed our Hindi film 'Boot Polish' (1954).

Subir Banerjee as Apu in our Satyajit Ray's Bengali film 'Pather Panchali' (1955).

Jean-Pierre Leaud in Francois Truffaut's French film 'The 400 Blows' (1959).

Nikolai Burlyaev in Andrei Tarkovsky's Soviet film 'Ivan's Childhood' (1962).

Babak Ahmadpou in Abbas Kiarostami's Iranian film 'Where is the Friend's Home?' (1987).

It's Tribute to all such great child artists!!

- Manoj Kulkarni