Happy Birthday to my favourite Hollywood Actress..Julia Roberts!

She is still best known as 'Pretty Woman' the 30 years old film, for which she won 'Golden Globe'!

Always stay like this..Ms.Julia!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

THE GREAT FILM ARCHIVIST!

I have felicitated Nairsahab on the occasion of publication
ceremony of my 'Chitrasrushti' in 2002 at 'NFAI', Pune!

 

On 'World Day for Audio-Visual Heritage' remembering renowned film archivist, historian & founder of 'NFAI'..our most respected P. K. Nair!

His contribution in preserving film heritage was great!!

Salute to Nairsahab!!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'IFFI'S RAY HONOUR TO SZABO & SCORSESE! 

Great Filmmakers..Istvan Szabo (Hungarian) & Martin Scorsese (American).

Glad to know that our '52nd IFFI' (International Film Festival of India) is going to honour veteran filmmakers of world cinema..Istvan Szabo and Martin Scorsese with..'Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award'!

 

Hungarian great screenwriter and film & opera director Istvan Szabo got international fame with his 'Mephisto' (1981) which won 'Oscar's 'Best Foreign Language Film award'!

 

A prominent producer-director-actor of New Hollywood era..Martin Scorsese became world famous with De Niro starrer thriller 'Taxi Driver' (1976) which won 'Palme d'Or' at Cannes Film Festival.

It's not that surprising because Ray admired both genres..European Art and Hollywood too!

 

Congratulations to them!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

OM..THE POWERFUL ACTOR!

Today is 71st Birth Anniversary of Om Puri, the powerful actor of our Parallel Indian Cinema!

Here are the two pictures of his most important roles..

 

Om Puri in Govind Nihalani's film 'Aakrosh' (1980).

 

Om Puri with Smita Patil in Satyajit Ray's film 'Sadgati' (1981).

 

Both the films depicted casteism, poverty and exploitation!

Now 40 years are over, but situation is still the same!

The Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

 

EXCLUSIVE!!

FIRST PAKISTANI FILM 'TERI YAAD'..70!

 

 

'Teri Yaad' was the first Pakistani feature film which released there in.. August, 1948 and their film industry completed 70 years!

After the partition Lahore became Pakistan's film production centre, so they call their film industry.. 'Lollywood'! Dewan Sardari Lal & D. P. Singha co-produced this industry's first film 'Teri Yaad' in 1948. The film was directed by.. Daud Chand. As title says this was love story which Sardari Lal wrote. Its screenplay was written by.. Khadim Mohiudin. For this Raza Mir did the cinematography and Muhammad Latif Durrani edited the film.

Our acting king Dilip Kumar's (Yusuf Khan) younger brother Nasir Khan was the hero of this film & beautiful Asha Posley (real name Sabira Begum) was heroine. Other artists acted in it were.. Jahangir, Nazar, Ghulam Qadir, Ragni, Shakir, Shola, Najma, Sardar and Ghulam Muhammad. It's lyrics were written & composed by Inayat Ali Nath and lead actress herself sung the title song!

On 7th August, 1948 the day of Eid-Ul-Fitr..this Hindi-Urdu film 'Teri Yaad' was premiered at 'Parbhat Theatre' in Lahore. Then film had successful screenings in Lahore, Quetta..and Dhaka (now in Bangladesh) too!

It's a Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'UMBARATHA' FROM DOWN MEMORY LANE!

It is almost 40 years old photo of actress Smita Patil with director Dr.. Jabbar Patel & actor Girish Karnad while shooting Marathi social film 'Umbaratha'!

This film & Smitaji won awards!

Tribute her on birth anniversary!

- Manoj Kulkarni

APPROPRIATE SCENARIO IN THIS DURGOTSAV

Here are the pictures of appropriate felicitation and welcome of Ms... Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (General Secretary of 'Indian National Congress') in Varanasi, UP recently!

Her committed social work for the people is highly admirable!

The big hope for Congress and nation!!

Best wishes!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

FATHER OF INDIAN ANIMATION..RAM MOHAN!

Two years are over..Ram Mohanji, 'Father of our Indian Animation'..left this world!

Ram Mohanji drawing the pictures!

Trained animator.. from Clair Weeks of 'Walt Disney Studios' Ram Mohan worked in 'Cartoon Film Unit of our India's 'Films Division' for more than a decade! Then in 1972 he founded his 'Ram Mohan - Biographics' which latter became division of United Studios Ltd. in 1998.

 

He did characters design and story boards work for 'This Our India'. He was known for creating animation sequences for feature films. He did animation for Mrinal Sen's new wave film 'Bhuvan Shome' (1969) and for Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj ke Khiladi' (1977) & B. R. Chopra's 'Pati Patni aur Woh' (1978) he was Animation Director!

Ram Mohanji talking!

Ram Mohan gained international recognition for his cartoon films. He directed animated short films 'You Said It' (1971) & 'Fire Games' (1983) got National Awards. In 2014 he was honoured with the 'Padma Shri' by our Government of India.

I remember meeting to Ram - Mohanji in 'IDPA's documentary film festival, 2003 at Mumbai.

In that he was felicitated with the 'Ezra Mir Life Time Achievement Award'!

Humble homage to this genius!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

NOBEL TO GURNAH!

Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah has won the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Swedish Academy praised Gurnah for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism".

His novels 'Paradise' and 'Desertion' gained big admiration!

Congratulation!!

- Manoj Kulkarni