AD & THEATRE LEGEND ALYQUE PADAMSEE NO MORE!

Legendary Ad-filmmaker & Theatre artist.. Alyque Padamsee!

Legendary personality in the fields of Ad-film making & English Theatre.. Alyque Padamsee passed away today!

'Gandhi's (1982) filmmaker Richard Attenborough directing..

Alyque Padamsee for the role of Muhammad Ali Jinnah!

At the age of seven he started acting on theatre with play 'Merchant of Venice' by Shakespeare! 
Then he became director with drama 'Taming of Shrew'. His lavish stage productions includes 'Tuglaq' and 'Broken Images'.

Alyque Padamsee was best known as 'Advertising Genius' who once headed famous company 'Lintas Bombay'! With outstanding creativity he built over 100 brands. He was voted in 'International Clio Hall of Fame' the Oscars of World Advertising!

Pop singer & actress Sharon Prabhakar with Alyque Padamsee!

He also acted in cinema..And in Richard Attenborough's 'Oscar' winner 'Gandhi' (1982) he portrayed the role of Muhammad Ali Jinnah!

In 2000 he was honoured with 'Padmashri' by our Government. And in 2012 he received 'Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna'!

Many years ago in Pune I saw English play in which Alyque Padamsee performed with his third wife pop singer & actress Sharon Prabhakar. After the play we had nice interaction!

Homage to this genius!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrushti']

CLASSIC FILM ON DANCE..'KALPANA'..70!

Poster of classic Indian film 'Kalpana' (1948) made by Uday Shankar!

Just came to know that restored classic Indian film 'Kalpana' screened at '24th Kolkata International Film Festival'! Decade back it was screened in 'IFFI'! This was the first film which entirely shot as a dance ballet by Uday Shankar. 1948 made this movie now completed 70 years! I saw it during my 'Film Appreciation Course' in 1989 at 'FTII'!

Uday Shankar & wife Amla Shankar in 'Kalpana' (1948).

Indian classical dancer Uday Shankar was best known for creating a fusion through adapting European theatrical techniques to Indian classical dance! 'Kalpana' was the only film he made! As title suggest this was a fantasy of performing artist. It's about a young dancer's dream of setting up a dance academy..reflection of his desire! 
He wrote, produced & directed this film. For this K. Ramnoth did cinematography and N. K. Gopal did editing. Apart from this Vishnudas Shirali composed the music!

Padmini & other artists in fantasy scene of film 'Kalpana' (1948).

Uday Shankar himself played lead role with wife Amla Shankar in this film 'Kalpana' (1948).. 
on his unique choreography! With them that time teenager South Indian dancer Padmini first time appeared on screen..And Marathi actress Usha Kiran made her film debut with this! Zohra Sehgal was a part of it's dancing troupe. And most notable thing was (big name of Indian cinema) Guru Dutt assisted with the sets and direction in it!

Usha Kiran in film 'Kalpana' (1948).

This film shot at famous 'Gemini Studios' over five years and inspired it's legendary South Indian filmmaker S. S. Vasan to make Tamil movie 'Chandralekha' (1948) which became landmark with it's large drum dance sequences!

Digital restoration of this classic 'Kalpana' was taken place in 2009 at National Film Archive of India' in collaboration with France base 'Thomson Foundation'! 
After that in 2010 this film restored by the 'World Cinema Foundation'. And Mumbai base 'Film Heritage Foundation' curated this movie in celluloid format and screened in 'KIFF'!

Tribute to this landmark film & it's creator!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
 ['Chitrasrushti']

TENNIS STAR SANIA!

Sania Mirza with 'Padma Bhushan'.

Today is birthday of our beautiful favourite Tennis Star..Sania Mirza! She is 34 now!


Topmost player Sania Mirza is..in 'Time' magazine's list of '100 most influential people in the world'!

Tennis star Sania Mirza & filmstar Shahrukh Khan at book launch!

She received 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna' award!
And she honoured with 'Padma Bhushan'!



She launched autobiography 'Ace against Odds'!

Congratulation!
Proud of you!!

Saalgirah Mubaarak!!!


- Manoj Kulkarni

TRIBUTE.!!!

Rare photograph..
Silent cinema genius Charlie Chaplin meeting former Prime Ministers of our India..Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Shrimati 
Indira Gandhi! 


- Manoj Kulkarni

"Meri aawaaz suno..
Pyaar ka raag suno..
Maine ek phool jo..
Sine pe saja rakha tha..
Usake parade mei tumhe
Dil se laga rakha tha..
Tha juda sabase mere..
Ishq ka andaaz suno.."

It's a song from classic Hindi movie 'Naunihal' (1967) written by Kaifi Aazmi and in the music of Madan Mohan..sung by Mohommed Rafi!

Remembering this on today's birth anniversary of first Prime Minister of our India..
Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru sahab!

TRIBUTE!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

CLASSIC CINEMATIC SATIRES! 

Remembering the classic satiric films..for wonderful cinematic comments on the world scenario!

(On left) master of (satiric) silent cinema..Charlie Chaplin in his film 'Modern Times' (1936).

And (on right) picture of documentary filmmaker Bert Haanstra's 'Funfare' (1958).

These satiric films are still contemporary!

 - Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrushti']

'CLEOPATRA'..55.

Elizabeth Taylor in her lifetime role of 'Cleopatra'!

Legendary movie 'Cleopatra' (1963)..completed 55 years!

Director Joseph Mankiewicz with artists Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton!

Walter Wanger Produced this epic drama directed by Joseph Mankiewicz It was one of the most expensive films in history of cinema!

Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton in film 'Cleopatra' (1963).

Based on a novel 'The Life and times of Cleopatra' by Carlo Maria Franzero. For film screenplay adapted by Sidney Buchman Ranald Macdougall with director Mankiewicz!

This film was Cinematographed (in 70 mm) by 
Leon Shamroy & Edited by Dorothy Spencer. And it 
had Music by 
Alex North!

In the lead with Richard Burton...Cleopatra greatly portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
  ['Chitrasrushti']