UN-COMMON MAN!

Today is 7th death anniversary of our renowned Indian Illustrator and Cartoonist R. K. Laxman!

He was best known for his creation of..

'The Common Man' in his daily cartoon..

"You Said It"!

Homage to this great artist!!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

Happy Platinum Jubilee (75th) Birthday to Ramesh Sippy Ji, Bollywood Legend! 💐

Remembering nice meeting him in 'IFFI'!

- Manoj Kulkarni

During my Film Journalism..I got kind gestures from greats like Dilipkumarji, Naushadji, Lata Mangeshkarji, Majroohji, Sulochanaji, Manojkumarji, Mrinal Senji..

- Manoj Kulkarni

'WEST SIDE STORY'..60!

Dance sequence from Hollywood Musical 'West Side Story' (1961).

 

One of my favourite Hollywood Musicals..'West Side Story's 60th anniversary recently happened!

 'West Side Story's (1961) legendary filmmaker Robert Wise!

 'The Sound of Music' fame legendary film - maker Robert Wise produced & directed this 'West Side Story' before that in 1961. This film was an - adaptation of 1957 Broadway musical which was conceived by its choreographer Jerome Robbins with the music of Leonard Bernstein. Both also did their same great jobs for the film which superbly made by.. Wise with excellent cinematography of Daniel L. Fapp.

Bollywood movie 'Josh's (2000) poster!

This musical was inspired by Shakespeare's famous romantic play 'Romeo and Juliet'. 

On that Ernest Lehman wrote the screenplay of film 'West Side Story', in which two youngsters from rivalary gangs falls in love and that creates tensions among their respective friends! 

Artists like Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno & George Chakiris played the Main roles effectively in it.

'West Side Story' won various prestigious awards includes 'Golden Globe', 'Grammy' and 11 'Oscars'!

Our Bollywood movie 'Josh' (2000) was inspired by 'West Side Story'. Mansoor Khan directed in this movie Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, - Chandrachur Singh & Sharad Kapoor played the main roles. This also became hit!

A Tribute to Hollywood musical!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

BOMBAY RAVI!

My informal meeting with Music director Ravi ji!

Hindi film 'Chaudhvin ka chand' (1960).

"Chaudhvin ka chand ho.." Or  

"Neele gagan ke tale.."

Such classic Hindi film Songs comes to mind..with the name of music director Ravi ji (Sharma).

But few may know that he also composed the music of Malayalam films under the name..Bombay Ravi!

Malayalam film 'Parinayam' (1994)

 

I had seen such good Malayalam films in 'International Film Festival of India's (our 'IFFI's) 'Indian Panorama'. One was Hari haran's 'Parinayam' and another was Hari -kumar's 'Sukrutham' with Mammootty's excellent role! Both 1994 made films gave Bombay Raviji 'Best Music - director's National Award!

I remember this after 25 years..and informal meeting with Raviji also!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Golden Jubilee Birthday Regards to..

Ms. Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra,

General Secretary-'Indian National Congress'!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

PUNJABI SINGER-STAR GURDAS MAAN!

Famous Punjabi singer & film star Gurdas Maan is now 65!

In 1980..he became popular with the song "Dil da mamla hai." Then on screen for 'Long Da - Lishkara' (1986) in the music of Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh he sang & acted song "Challa." is all time hit!

Gurdas Maan recorded over 34 albums and has written over 305 songs. He acted in many hit Punjabi films includes own productions too! 

He did the character of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in film 'Shaheed Udham Singh' (1999). And he played Punjabi poet Waris Shah in 'Ishq Da - Waaris' (2006) which was India's entry for Academy Award!

 

 

I still remember nice meeting him during the screening of their Punjabi film 'Shaheed - E-Mohabbat' (and in party after that) in our 'International Film Festival of India' held at Hyderabad in 1999. This film was based on real-life love story of Boota Singh & Zainab during partition! Manoj Punj directed in this film Gurdas Maan & Divya Dutta did those roles! [Superhit Hindi movie 'Gadar' (2001) was inspired from this!]

Wishing all the best Maan sahab!!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

HAPPY NEW YEAR!