Legendary Bhupen Hazarika and I in 'IFFI, 1995 at Mumbai!

SUDHAKANTHA  BHUPENDA!

Legendary Assamese Singer, lyricist, music composer & director Bhupen Hazarika's
92nd birth anniversary 
just happened!

Madhuri Dixit in M.F. Husain's 'Gaj Gamini' (2000)

Bhupenda composed music & sung for this film!

'Dadasaheb Phalake Award' winner Bhupenda introduced the culture & folk music (like Bihu geet) of Assam and Northeast India to national (Hindi) screen!

With unique soft voice his songs always touched the heart..like in Kalpana Lajmi's 'Rudaali' (1993)..
"Dil hoom hoom kare.."

Remembering meeting Bhupenda in our '26th International Film Festival of India' held at Mumbai in 1995!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]

LEGENDARY MALAYALAM ACTOR..MAMMOOTTY!

 - Manoj Kulkarni

Mammootty's great role in English film 'Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar' (1999).

Today is birthday of Malayalam leading Actor & Producer...Mammootty!

Mammootty & Gouthami in Malayalam 'Sukrutham' (1994).

Muhammad Kutty..famous as Mammootty began his film career with 'Devalokam' (1979) but his full length character was in film 'Mela' (1980) directed by K.G. George! And then he established himself as an actor with films like..'Sphodanam', 'Munnettam' & 'Ahimsa'!

Mammootty in Hindi 'Dhartiputra' (1993)

He acted in renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalkrishnan's three movies 'Anantram' (1987), 'Mathilukal' (1980) & 'Vidheyan' (1993). 

I am with Mammootty in 'IFFI', 1997 at Thiruvananthapuram!

Mammootty acted in other South Indian languages films too! He made his debut in Hindi cinema with 'Dhartiputra' (1993)...One of his excellent performances was in film 'Sukrutham' (1994) directed by Hari Kumar! He acted in 350 films in his career spanning four decades!

He won 13 South Filmfare awards & 3 National awards. In this includes Best Actor for his great role in & as 'Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar' (1999).. an English language film made by Dr. Jabbar Patel!..He also got 'Padmashri'!

I met Mammootty during our '28th International Film Festival of India' at Thiruvananthapuram in 1997. 

Regards to him!!

- Manoj Kulkarni 
['Chitrasrushti', Pune]

HOMAGE TO GREAT..KUROSAWA!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Renowned Japanese Filmmaker Akira Kurosawa with camera!

Today is 20th Death Anniversary of one of the topmost film personalities of Asian cinema & favourites...great Japanese Filmmaker Akira Kurosawa!

Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece 'Rashomon' (1950).

During his 57 years of film career Kurosawa made 30 films. His masterpiece with actor Toshiro Mifune 'Rashomon' (1950) won the 'Golden Lion' at 'Venice Film Festival'! 

Akira Kurosawa directing his actor Toshiro Mifune 

on the location of film 'Yojimbo' (1961).

Then with 'Seven Samurai (1954) he became famous in world cinema! After 'Yojimbo' (1961) his 'Kagemusha' (1980) won the 'Palme d'Or' in 'Cannes Film Festival'! 

That series of international awards continued up to 'Ran' (1985). And in 1990 Kurosawa received 'Oscar's Lifetime Achievement Award!

Kurosawa's sensitive film 'Ikiru' (1952).

Kurosawa also regarded as one of the most important & influential filmmakers in the history of world cinema!

Great Filmmaker Akira Kurosawa with 'Oscar'!

Famous Hollywood & Bollywood films also got inspiration from Kurosawa's films. Like John Sturges directed 'Magnificent Seven' (1960) was based on his 'Seven Samurai'! And Hrishikesh Mukherje's classic Indian movie 'Aanand' (1971) was inspired from Kurosawa's 'Ikiru' (1952) & Raj N. Sippy directed blockbuster 'Inkaar' (1978) was a Hindi remake of his 'High & Low' (1963).

Homage to this master of cinema!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

OLIVIA'S BOOK 'GIRL ON THE BALCONY'!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Veteran Actress Olivia Hussey with her book..'The Girl On The Balcony'!

Famous Juliet on screen..veteran Argentine born English actress Olivia Hussey recently released her book 'The Girl On The Balcony'!

 Pretty Olivia Hussey in balcony scene of 'Romeo and Juliet' (1968)

It's a memoir about her life after she acted in the most popular movie 'Romeo and Juliet' (1968) which completed 50 years. Renowned Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli made in this film handsome English singer-actor Leonard Whiting played the role of Romeo!

Poster of film 'Romeo and Juliet' (1968).

I already wrote a lot about this beautiful actress Olivia Hussey and this classic film adaptation of Shakespeare's play! Olivia was only fifteen years old when she appeared as pretty gorgeous Juliet in this and achieved big international recognition. She won Golden Globe..And became icon of lyrical love!

I can still say the Shakespeare quote for this favourite Juliet..

"It is the East and Juliet is the Sun!"

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

COME (ROMANTIC) SEPTEMBER!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Rock Hudson-Gina Lollobrigidain in 'Come September' (1961)

Filmmaker Robert Mulligan!

Romantic September started and remembered Robert Mulligan's romantic  Hollywood musical film 'Come September' (1961) in which Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida & Sandra Dee played the roles nicely!


Stanley Shapiro, Maurice Richlin, Stanley Roberts & Robert Russell wrote this film's hit music composed by Hans J. Salter! Bobby Darin sung Multiplication & composed theme! It's famous tune still lingering in mind!

Biswajeet, Aasha Parekh & Mumtaz in 'Mere Sanam' (1965)

Bollywood's romantic movie 'Mere Sanam' (1965) was the unofficial remake of that Hollywood classic! G. P. Sippy produced & Amar Kumar directed this 'Mere Sanam' completed 50 years!

Narendra Bedi & Rajendrasingh Bedi wrote screenplay-dialogues for it..which cinematographed by C. Vaikunth & edited by M. S. Shinde! For this romantic musical..Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote lyrics and O. P. Nayyar composed the music! 

Lovely songs of it..like "Roka kayee bar maine dil ki umang ko.." and "Hue hai tumpe aashiq hum.." sung by Mohammed Rafi & Aasha Bhosale! Biswajeet, Aasha Parekh, Rajendra Nath, Mumtaz.& Pran played the roles in it!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER..JOHN FORD!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Today is 45th death anniversary of great Irish-American Filmmaker...
John Ford!

Famous Filmmaker John Ford!

In his career more than 50 years..Ford directed more than 140 films and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential film-makers!

In particular, Ford was a pioneer of location shooting and the long shot!

 
He was famous for both the genre..such as Westerns like 'The Stagecoach' (1939) and Social drama like 'How green was my valley' (1941) which won 'Oscar' awards!

He won four Academy Awards for 
Best Director..which is a record!

Homage to this genius!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]

ISTAVAN GAAL..'FALCON' OF HUNGARIAN CINEMA!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Renowned Hungarian Filmmaker Istvan Gaal!

Renowned Hungarian Screenwriter and Filmmaker Istvan Gaal's 85th Birth Anniversary recently happened!

He is best known for his internationally acclaimed film 'The Falcons' (1970). He used this subject "falcons to protect crops in farms" as a metaphor! This film won Jury Prize in 'Cannes Film Festival'.

Poster of Gaal's famous Hungarian film..
'The Falcons' (1970).

Gaal examined the terror of that era and focused in his films like 'Legato' (1978). He also showed concern towards establish socialist society. His film 'Etude' (1961) was a cinematic representation of human movement!

Filmmaker Istvan Gaal with camera!

Gaal also focused the problem of adjustment with rapidly changing society in his films 'Current' (1963) & 'Green Years' (1965). Came from peasant background he used his observations in his films like 'Dead Landscape' (1974).

Picture of Istvan Gaal's Hungarian film 'Baptism' (1970).

I remember watching Gaal's films 'The Falcons' & 'Orpheus and Eurydice' (1986) in 'FTII' theatre.


He made 27 films during his 40 years of career!

Tribute to this one of the masters of cinema!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti']
   [Pune, India]