Dilip Kumar sets the record straight on his personal and professional lifefew people have enjoyed such iconic reverence in the world of Indian cinema as Dilip Kumar, born Yousuf Khan. While many people have written their version of Dilip Kumar’s life, based on hearsay and brief contact with the legendary thespian, there was never an authenticated account of the star’s life. That was until the man himself decided to tell the story of his life to journalist Udaya Tara Nayar, who, interestingly, is a close friend and confidante of his wife, Saira. No book on Hindi cinema has ever been as keenly anticipated as this one. The idea for The Substance and the Shadow germinated in 2004, a year that saw a rash of books on the actor, including a “definitive biography” by Bunny Reuben. Dilip Kumar was appalled at the “distortions and misinformation” that the account contained. This book, in Dilip Kumar’s own words, is “an attempt at setting the record straight”.
The title of this book is apt – one because there is some substance as well as some shadow in the book. Second, we cannot ignore the fact that Yousuf Khan the substance became bigger with Dilip Kumar as his shadow. A thinking actor with mass appeal, a rare breed in this celebrity-obsessed country, the iconic star had hitherto kept his personal life under wraps. That life has been anything but ordinary. The night Yousuf Khan, the Pathan boy who would be India’s Tragedy King, was born in Kissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar, in 1922, a major fire broke out in the locality even as a severe blizzard raged. Dilip Kumar and drama have gone hand-in-hand ever since, and the book captures most of it in his own words.
The narrative is supplemented with a segment devoted to the impressions of his family and friends. But what will, perhaps, bother the reader is the mere “passing reference” to his liaisons with actresses such as Kamini Kaushal and Madhubala. While he does not harp about these incidents by saying, “it would be ungentlemanly to say more”, one cannot deny that the record has not been set straight on his personal life.
Similarly, the Asma episode, probably the greyest phase of the thespian’s life has also been given passing mention. But he gives an explanation for the same, too. Dilip Kumar’s reminiscences, as narrated to veteran journalist Udayatara Nayar, are low-key, matter-of-fact and measured. The actor writes: “…as Yousuf Khan, I am entitled to my privacy and the right to keep certain events in my life away from prying intruders… I do not revel in talking about my private life.” Considering that his natural impulse is to hold himself back a little, this autobiography would definitely leave Dilip Kumar’s fans asking for more. The Dilip Kumar- Saira Banu love story, which culminated in marriage in 1966, and is now poised on the cusp of a glorious golden jubilee, understandably receives detailed play in the book.
However, the way the book begins with eulogizing Saira Banu, the reader might feel that this could be a story of her life. This might irk some fans because the readers will find more weightage given to Saira and her side of the family, rather than Dilip Kumar’s estranged relatives. There could also be some narrated incidents that could cause a conflict in an informed Indian cinema aficionado. Dilip Kumar’s mentions that his wife Saira refused Dev Anand’s Guide, but those who have read Dev Anand’s autobiography and his own admission at various forums, would recall his own admission that Waheeda Rehman was always the first choice for Rosie.
Dilip Kumar is at his best when he discusses the craft of acting and how he devised his own signature approach to it and sorting out “the duality between the real and the unreal”. He acknowledges a debt to Ashok Kumar. “Ashok bhaia had hit upon the secret of ‘non-acting’ but he had a definite calculation in his mind when he performed and the arithmetic of that calculation was entirely his. I began to understand I would have to arrive at my own approach.” While he mentions his camaraderie with Raj Kapoor in lucid detail, he does not talk about his relationship with the third member of the triumvirate that ruled Hindi cinema in the 1950s – Dev Anand.
While the 445-page book reveals many unknown aspects of the multifaceted legend’s life – including dramatic utterances of Dilip’s intimate self, the meaning of his romanticism, the enlargement of his truth and the triumph of his vision of life – it could have carried more photographs from his life. His candour and the incidents he relates present various pictures of a connoisseur and man of parts. The “Reminiscences” section contains tributes, anecdotes or personal experiences written by 43 people who know Dilip Kumar intimately.
Pick up the book simply because it is the thespian talking – a heartfelt and compelling narrative – straight from the horse’s mouth – which reveals, for the first time, numerous unknown aspects of the life and times of one of the greatest legends. The book is unputdownable.
Ramgarh, an enchanting hamlet in Uttarakhand, offers stunning views, great walks and the much needed break from the city lifeWriter’s block they call it. I am sure there is a different term for every industry. And considering that right now festive season is on the roll, some of you even be facing a spender’s block (I’ve heard a thing or two about writer’s licence, you see). But yes, when it goes away, I am sure it’s the same feeling for everyone. So if you want some me-time, some time to connect with your inner self, there’s a little hamlet that can help you join the dots. At 7,000 ft, Ramgarh is not one of the popular hill stations you might have heard of. On way to Mukteshwar in Nainital district of Uttarakhand, the hill station is easy to miss, especially when the focus is on the more popular Nainital and Bhimtal. But take a de tour and you are sure to be rewarded with stunning views of the Himalayas and the quiet that lets you tune into yourself. My elder sister and I could, despite the fact that we had a four- and sixyear- old still marking their territories and constantly squabbling. For we were there to attain a higher state of peace. It’s after all in Ramgarh that Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore came for a short trip. According to a few local experts, Tagore visited Ramgarh in May 1903, with his son Samindranath and his daughter Renuka. His 13- year-old daughter had tuberculosis and clean, fresh air is what the doctors had advised.
Tagore was so taken by the natural beauty of the place that it is said he had planned to set-up Shantiniketan here, but finally chose his own home state, West Bengal. Author Mahadevi Verma lived here, too, while Narain Swami as well as Sri Aurobindo founded their ashrams in the vicinity. Famous wildlife conservationist and writer Jim Corbett lived in Ramgarh while he was going to catch one of the man-eating tigers and has also mentioned it in one of his books.
But back to lesser mortals like me. My sister and I were sorted. We would do all it took to get inspired and unwind. I’ll share the secrets of Ramgarh. You can comfort yourself with a favourite read, catch up on your sleep, meditate or just let your feet take you places. It’s not the hill station that has a Mall Road or your usual restaurant-type haunts .For Ramgarh is one of those places that needs to be discovered on long quiet walks where you can hear the winds, taste the fresh air laden with the heady smell of the pine trees, smell the fire from a nearby village home and hear your own breath intermingled with the chirping of birds. Talking of birds, Ramgarh is well-known amongst ornithologists for the huge varieties of migratory birds that can be seen throughout the year.
What’s more, if you are tired during the long walks, spring time allows you to simply pluck a fruit from the tress around you and smile at how much you can impress your nutrionist about the “fresh fruit” bit. Ramgarh is also known as the “Fruit Bowl of Kumaon”, thanks to its orchards of peach, apricots, pears and apples. In fact, walking and trekking should be on your to-do list in Ramgarh — when you are not reading or sleeping, that is.
Another must-do is Tagore Top. A trek for some, and a walk for a few, at the height of about 8,200 ft, this one is completely worth it. For it’s from his home on this hilltop that Tagore penned some his works from his collection of poems on children Shishu and some works of his collection, which later became Geetanjali. The home isn’t there sadly but one can still see its ruins in the many stones strewn around.
I imagine the loving father sitting by his children’s bedside, stroking his ailing daughter’s hair as many poems weaved themselves in his mind. The place has an eerie silence about it, the only sound being the winds whispering like they do at hilltops. The view to the valley is stunningly beautiful. While the place surely did something for the author, the father sadly lost his daughter later in Bengal, the same year.
Tagore returned to Ramgarh again in 1914, but probably couldn’t gather heart to stay at the same house and stayed in a cottage closer to the town, which is now a Neemrana property. For those who’ve heard of her, there is also the summer home of the famous writer Mahadevi Verma, which has now been turned into a small museum. Her writing desk, pots and pans, manuscripts, oil paintings, all make the small museum enchanting. And if you are a Hindi literature lover, you can run through the treasure of the library (a part of the museum), which has a wide collection of works by Hindi writers.
If, however, it’s walking in the hills that you like most, there is a strenuous trek to Devi Mandir. An ancient baba, a Shiv and a Devi Mandir, as well as a 360-degree view of the Himalayas — take your pick. If all this talk of walking has got you thinking, here is some relaxation. Check into the Welcome Heritage Taradale Cottage or Neemrana’s 19th century cottages in Ramgarh (also famous for its Natural Neemrana jams).
We settled into Soulitude, a beautifully-done holiday home in Gagar, Ramgarh, which offers some stunning views of the mountains. A Traveller’s Choice 2014 winner, the place is sure to get you dreaming of that holiday home. For right from the knick-knacks in the warm living room, to the hangings on the tree in the courtyard, everything has been handpicked by the owner’s wife. What was initially built as a getaway for its owner Manish Chandra and his friends, Solitude has now been opened to guests through selective marketing.
And once you are there, you will know exactly why the place is niche. There are no TV sets in the rooms. What you have, instead, are huge glass windows, a fireplace, a roof above the bed that can let you star gaze, and a warmth that comforts into that feeling of being at home. The lounge has a huge collection of books, movies and games (that kept the girls rather busy, much to our glee!) and a giant-screen TV with a collection of movies (thankfully none of us felt the need to turn to any).
For the foodie in you, there is scrumptious food to turn to. A cosy dining area, delicious meals (that can range from continental to Italian to Indian) and a bonfire and barbeque at night, and you are sure to come back for the food and the views. I sure will. For the fresh produce that Soulitude uses is from the owner’s organic farm nearby. Chandra has developed another beautiful property nearby, Solitude by the River, which is not too far from Gagar, and I just have to go there.
Traditional with a twist - that's Radisson Blu MBD Hotel made in India for youThe real test for a restaurant with North Indian cuisine is its dal makhani, and if that passes muster, you can give it a thumbs up. So when Made in India, the Indian restaurant at the Radission Blu MBD at Noida invited us for a food review, we decided that one of the dishes we must order is the dal. The fine dining restaurant comes out tops with the dal makhani: the flavoring is subtle and not over the top, and the dal is not doused in cream. For me, it crosses the tape with a podium finish.
The menu at Made in India reflects the “flavours of longforgotten cuisine of India”. The chefs here have not strayed away too much from the tried and tested traditional dishes, but have come up with some originals that use modern flavours to capture the imagination of those looking for something beyond the ordinary. Take, for instance, the nimbu mahi tikka (INR 875), which are fish steaks in a citrus marinade cooked in a tandoor using a dash of thyme oil. It’s the ubiquitous fish tikka presented in a new avatar: the pieces are larger than tikka size but smaller than a steak size and the marinade has a tangy flavour of the lime marinade. A word of warning though — the dish has six large pieces and if it’s an order for two, you won’t have space for the main course!
In the vegetarian section, we tried the navratan kebab (INR 575), this was a basic vegetable kebab filled with assorted, nuts such as almonds, cashew and raisins. The kebab was soft and succulent, with rich flavouring from the dry-fruit filling.
The chefs have also tried some experimentation here: there’s a rajma and akroot ki shammi (INR 575), for instance. The dish is made of kidney beans and walnuts, an unusual combination. The kunna gosht (INR 1295) in the nonvegetarian section is another innovative dish of lamb shoulders slow cooked with onions and spices.
For the main course, we selected the vegetable of the day — Kashmiri dum aloo (INR 775), cooked in tomato gravy. It was a tad too sweet for my liking but then I’m the kind that can eat a Naga chilly (just one though) without batting an eyelid. The murg khurchan (INR 875) is another dish we ordered that is not available everywhere. The chicken juliennes were well-spiced and stir fired with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes.
The dal makhni (INR 495) went perfectly with both the dishes. We also tried the khameeri roti (INR 135), thick North-West Frontier-style rotis that complemented the three dishes. These rotis are heavy on the stomach, so go for it only if you are really famished, but they are so delicious that I can eat them on their own without any accompaniments!
The lal mirch ka parathas (INR 145) or kheema kulchas (INR 165) are good options too. We didn’t try the khurmi naan (INR 145), which are stuffed with cheese and topped with diced tomatoes, but it sounded like a good option from the usual tandoori or roomali rotis. We topped off the meal with a traditional phirni (INR 325) that had the right amount of sweetness, making it a perfect way to end the meal.
Made in India, with its billowy white curtains, has a Bollywood ambience and definitely gives you the star treatment as well. From the extensive menu, you can certainly find a dish that everyone on your table will enjoy. The chefs have made a sincere effort to create a menu that is different, yet retains the Indian-ness. (INR 1695 plus taxes for one person, with a choice of starters, main course and dessert).
TRY AS I MIGHT, I can’t remember the number of times I have watched Mrs Doubtfire. Robin Williams is splendid in that movie, isn’t he? Or he was rather splendid, wasn’t he?
What pains me most as I write this editorial is the sad fact of how a person who made so many people laugh actually died distraught, fighting extreme depression? The mounting pressure of alimony from his two previous marriages, the alleged survivor’s guilt that he lived with (his three dear friends, Christopher Reeve, John Belushi and Andy Kaufman, were dead), substance abuse, the pressures of maintaining his lifestyle, the cancellation of his latest TV show and the gradual decay that makes its way into a celebrity’s life was too much for him to bear.
“You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it”, the American actor, comedian, film producer, and screenwriter had said once.And sadly it was one spark of madness that took his life away.
Depression is a mounting concern in modern times. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression is slated to become the second leading cause of death and disability across the world by 2020. What is worse, the news for India isn’t good either. Nearly every thirteenth person in India runs the risk of developing an episode of depression during his/her lifetime, according to a study conducted by WHO. Depression hits harder when you have bigger expectations from life. Dealing with life in the glamour world is definitely not easy, but what is probably the most difficult is being in it all and yet not being swayed by it and losing the sense of reality. At least that is how I look at it.
And this is one of the reasons we have the diva and timeless beauty, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, on the cover. She has made her transition from being a leading actress to focusing on roles that suit her well. So be it her dance academy, sneaking a holiday with her family to the Taj Mahal or sharing screen space with her one time rival Juhi Chawla, she is doing it all with a poise. Read between the lines and you will find out why it is important to have a life beyond both work and family.
Talking of life, we feature an American settled in India, Jodie Underhill in Good Karma. She leads Waster Warriors with a mission to a clean India, not stopping to give explanations on why she think the world will be a better place without all the garbage and that you got to start somewhere.
In Looking Back, we have an interesting interview with veteran journalist Tamal Bandyopadhyay, who shares the importance of integrity and what it takes to keep fighting, no matter how big and mighty your opponent is.
Fight what is right, for what you want to do. For that is what makes life worth every pain.
NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, MADHURI DIXIT-NENE GIVES IT HER ALL — BE IT MOVIES, DANCE OR MOTHERHOODIt sounds clichéd, but it really is her smile that you notice on the crowded sets. Madhuri Dixit Nene’s famous flash of pearlies lights up everything around her. There’s also the bubbling laughter, which leaves you at a loss for words. Is it like a gurgling stream, ghungroos, tinkle of champagne glasses? And then when she waves at you and beckons you as though you are the only person in that room, it is bound to stay with you for a long time.
Recently, columnist and movie critic Shefalee Vasudev described Madhuri’s charisma as: “Madhuri Dixit would become Hindi cinema’s only Mohini. Madhubala was mesmerising, Waheeda Rehman engrossingly attractive, Hema Malini the ultimate dream girl and Rekha sensational, but Madhuri — oh, she was something else. An incidental sum total of desirable parts of moh (allure) and maya (illusion). As a heroine, Madhuri was neither the “imported” Alpha Cat nor the Omega Kitty, but a rare combination of ‘Hindustani sexy'.”
For nearly two decades, Bollywood’s everlasting beauty has ruled the Indian male imagination as the ultimate fantasy: always sassy, indisputably sexy, and yet, curiously innocent. The fact that she has an oeuvre of films that encompass multiple genres means she can hypnotise front-benchers as well as gallery critics. Her five Filmfare awards and the highest number of Best Actress nominations (13) are a tribute to her acting talent. Here’s what the dhak dhak girl has to say about life and its surprises. Edited excerpts from an interview:
What is the secret of the ageless Madhuri?
Beauty cannot be defined in a line. I think it’s the overall personality that comprises beauty. Aarti, I think you are beautiful! Beauty is the confidence one has to be able to go out of the house without makeup. A balanced routine and some good habits go a long way in staying beautiful and having a fit body. I don’t smoke and drink and lay great emphasis on diet and exercise. I work out at least six days a week. Eat healthy, eat well and work out. In other words, lead a balanced life. Also, dancing is my secret to inner beauty that radiates on the face — dancing makes you sweat, increases blood circulation and keeps the skin flushed. It is also the best ever mood lifter. So if you think I am good looking, dancing has a lot to do with it.
How are your kids coping with having a celebrity mom?
A couple of months ago, my son was going around the house saying, “Yay, my mum’s name is Madhuri Dixit-Nene and she is a judge on Jhalak and she is an actress and she does ad films and she does this and she does that.” (laughs). The other day, somebody from school must have said, “Oh you are so lucky you have an actress, Madhuri Dixit, as your mom.” And my sons came home saying, “This is what my classmate said mom, but you’re still our mom, na?’ And I assured them that I was. I said, “I am your mom first, then everything else.” Earlier, it would give them a kick to see me on Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, but now they are immune to my on-screen charms!
How supportive has your family been in your career?
I believe that without the support of my family, whether it is my mother-in-law or my mom, I would just not be capable of doing everything that I am able to. Life is a balancing act and my family’s support has been my biggest strength in balancing work and personal life. They make sure that everything is taken care of and that I don’t need to worry. It is a wonderful feeling to have that kind of support and I hope every woman gets a family as supportive as mine. It sets you free and allows you to think beyond children and family. Which I think is extremely important for your creativity.
Do you have different criteria now for picking roles and scripts than when you started? What is it that you are looking for now?
Well, I’m looking for scripts and roles that will be challenging. I want something that excites me; something that I feel will give me an opportunity to do something new. I don’t think I can be playing the pretty girl or someone’s love interest anymore because those roles will have no depth to them. I need scripts that have depth and let me showcase my talent.
Do you believe this is the right time for it? In the past couple of years, we’ve had strong, successful movies that were women-centric.
I am glad I am in Bollywood at a time when things are changing for the better for women. They are no longer caricatures such as an avenger, victim or eye candy. This was unthinkable earlier. Women now are people, characters in movies. There is a change in mainstream roles as well. I like what Deepika did in Cocktail. Even in Chennai Express, her role was as important as that of Shahrukh’s. This change is welcome. A woman’s role in the society is changing and the change is perceptible. There was a time when I never saw female assistant directors, camerapersons or makeup artists. You could count the number of women directors on your fingers. New-age directors should share credit for writing interesting roles for women and continue the good work. I saw Queen and I loved it. I saw Citylights and it made me feel really good about being a part of Bollywood today.
You also worked with your one-time competitor for the first time. What took you so long to work with Juhi Chawla?
I never thought of Juhi as my competitor and never had any qualms about working with anyone. We are actors, not horses running with blinkers towards a finish line. It is not that I haven’t worked in multiheroine projects earlier. It is wonderful we could finally do a film together. She is a good actress and that is inspiring when you go to the sets. Our scenes in Gulab Gang were very hard hitting. She is a good actress and it was inspiring to go to the sets. I would love to work with Juhi again.
Apart from films and reality shows, what else is keeping you busy? How about going behind the camera?
My dance website, www.dancewithmadhuri.com. Dance is and will always be my first love and I am passionate about it. We have over 21,000 students enrolled so far. The best part about it is that you can learn dance from anywhere in the world — just log on to the website and learn. I am busy with that, and as of now, I have no plans to direct or produce films.
What do you like to do when you want to take a break?
Take a holiday with my family! It could be a weekend trip to Taj Mahal or a fortnight-long holiday. A holiday is my favourite me-time. And if it is in the family’s favourite destination, Maldives, even better. I visited the islands with my husband and sons for about a fortnight and it was pure heaven for that period. Maldives is a little piece of paradise — your own little island. Besides pampering at spas, we had a whale of a time snorkeling on the coral beaches of Maldives. In fact, that is what motivated me to take a few lessons in scuba diving as well.
It is hard to imagine grace and poise personified indulging in adventure sports...
I agree with you. It wasn’t like I knew about this side of me earlier. It is only after I met my husband (Dr Shriram Nene) that I realised I enjoy adventure. But he is way ahead of me — he is the one to bungeejump, parasail and do all sorts of crazy stuff without thinking. He will just go ahead and jump. He is more adventurous. He’s grown up in the US, where people have a love for sports. With Ram, I saw a different kind of life — a carefree life. Before that in India, it was all about work and little time to do anything else. With him, I saw the ordinary, lovely things that are out there, and enjoyed them. I trained to be a scuba diver and have a license. I have tried fishing and all kinds of sports. We parasailed. But bungee jumping is one thing I will not do. I just cannot jump off a cliff. I cannot jump off anything, period. My kids are like their father — they are forever ready to try out anything.
Isn’t it difficult for you to cope with their zest for adventure?
Yes, but the reason is totally different and it has nothing to do with whether I want to do it or not. I wish people wouldn’t hound me as much as they do, especially in India. I do realise it is their way of showing love, and I am really thankful I have so much of it, but my family gets nervous and bugged if people are constantly staring. When I was in Denver, I would go to the mall or gas station on my own. And if someone did recognise me, they would first ask if I was Madhuri Dixit and then they would say “hello” and talk for perhaps a minute, but not hound you. For the same reason, I don't like being fussed over at airports in India by the ground staff either, and sometimes the way people stare, it is unnerving! My sons, husband and I went to Taj Mahal recently and throughout our visit to the Taj, I had my face covered with a scarf — even in the wee hours of morning! My sons found that funny.
What has Madhuri Dixit Nene not done and wants to do?
I want to go to either one of the poles. And I have also always wanted to travel to Japan. Hope I get to go there soon!
POLICY CHANGE// In a landmark decision, the BJP-led Central government scrapped the Planning Commission and is set to replace it with an eightmember thinktank.
While addressing the nation from Red Fort on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the dissolution of the 64-year-old Planning Commission to address the current economic challenges and strengthen the federal structure.
The Planning commission had been formed in 1950 through an executive order by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. For the past 65 years, it has served as a link between the Centre and the states. Modi told PTI, “Sometimes it becomes necessary to repair a house. It costs lot of money. But it does not give us satisfaction. Then we feel it is better to make a new house,” adding, “We need an institution of creating thinking and optimum utilisation of youth capability,” referring to federalism and a call for the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
In place of the Planning Commission, proposed the thinktank will comprise of top economists, social activists and scientists. Of the eight members, four will be permanent, while the rest will be a part of the panel on a rotational basis. Modi had also asked the general public to give its inputs to the government regarding the new institution. An Open Forum has also been set up by the PMO to collect ideas from the people.
MEDICINE// Scientists have found how the deadly Ebola virus blocks and disables the body's natural immune response, a discovery that may guide the development of potential cures or vaccines. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the worst since the virus was first discovered four decades ago, has killed more than 1,000 people since early this year, while nearly 2,000 have been infected, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dr Gaya Amarasinghe and colleagues from Washington University School of Medicine, along with collaborators from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, found how the Ebola protein VP24 disrupts the cell's innate immune response, a crucial early step on the virus's path to causing deadly disease.
According to the researchers, VP24 works by preventing the transcription factor STAT1, which carries interferon's antiviral message from entering the nucleus and initiating an immune response. As part of a rapid immune response, the cell allows STAT1 an “emergency access lane” to the nucleus. Rather than block all nuclear transfer, however, VP24 focuses on blocking STAT1's “emergency access lane”. “Normally interferon causes STAT1 to enter the cell nucleus, where it activates the genes for hundreds of proteins involved in antiviral responses,” Dr Daisy Leung from Washington University School of Medicine said. “But when VP24 is attached to STAT1, it can't get into the nucleus,” she added.
There is currently no available cure or vaccine for Ebola, which the WHO has declared a global public health emergency. The virus may be acquired upon contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea follow, along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys.
DEMISE// Celebrated American actor, comedian, film producer and screenwriter, Robin McLaurin Williams was found dead on August 11 and investigations have shown he committed suicide.
An actor that brought energy and laughter to his roles, Williams was nominated for theAcademy Award for best actorthree times and won theAcademy Award for best supporting actor for his performance as therapist Dr Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting. He received twoEmmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, twoScreen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards.The actor had reportedly been undergoing treatment for early Parkinson’s and was battling severe depression.
Starting as astand-up comedianinSan Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, Williams is credited with leading San Francisco’s comedy renaissance.After rising to fame as Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy (1978–82), Williams went on to establish a career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting.
His film career included acclaimed work such as Popeye (1980), The World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The Fisher King (1991), and Good Will Hunting (1997), as well as financial successes such as Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Night at the Museum (2006), and Happy Feet (2006). He also appeared in the music video forBobby McFerrin’s song “Don't Worry, Be Happy”.
LAUNCH// Representatives of Tata- SIA Airlines Limited (TSAL), the aviation joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, said on Monday the brand name of its new airline will be Vistara. Vistara is derived from the Sanskrit word Vistaar, which means limitless expanse.
It aims to start operations by October this year, which will be subject to approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It will take delivery of its first plane — an Airbus A320-200 — in September and plans to increase the fleet to 20 aircraft that will include A320neos by the end of five years of operations.
To begin with, Vistara will look at metro cities to offer its service. Tata- SIA executives are gung-ho about the prospects of a full-service airline in India, though they did not reveal the fare and network details. “We are close to finalising the network,” said Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO of TSAL, adding that the number of India's airline seats per capita at 0.07 is much lower than Australia's 3.35.
Mukund Rajan, Brand Custodian and Member of the Group Executive Council at Tata Sons, cited a report from consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), which states that India will become the thirdlargest aviation market in the world by 2020. He added that India's domestic air passenger traffic is expected to grow from 60 million per annum last year to 175 million a year by 2021. Prasad Menon, Chairman of TSAL, said that the Tata Group had made several attempts to enter the aviation sector over the past 20 years, each time with Singapore Airlines, but its attempts did not fructify. “The Tata Group never gave up. We withstood the disappointments,” he says.
Tata Sons holds a 51 per cent stake in TSAL, while the remaining 49 per cent is owned by Singapore Airlines. Two months ago, the Tata Group launched a low-cost airline — Air Asia India — in a joint venture with Malaysian airline AirAsia. Rajan says that both brands — AirAsia India and Vistara — will operate in different segments and will not compete with each other. A full-service airline at a time when Indian carriers are making losses has generated mixed responses from industry experts.
IT WAS a warm summer afternoon. There was already a winding queue by the time I got to the movie hall. No movie had generated so much buzz, definitely not such long lines or for that matter repeat viewers.
It was a while before our group got to the ticket counter, giving everyone enough time to catch up on the latest gossip and exchange news and views about all and sundry. The tickets came with stern warnings to each one of us that lighting incense, camphor and/or breaking coconuts was strictly prohibited! The excitement was palpable, continuous cheers followed the purchase of tickets, and entry into the dimly lit hall was accompanied by joyous cries. The few Americans hanging around at the time seemed intrigued and perplexed by this weird commotion. The seats were full but people desperately begged for tickets, agreeing to sit/stand/kneel/crouch in the aisles, whatever it took.
Everyone wanted a ringside seat to soak in every minute of the best three hours of their life. And thus it began, the cultural spectacle that needs to be experienced to be truly understood. The opening credits onscreen were welcomed with decibel levels reminiscent of Indian cricket victories at Eden Gardens. People danced in the aisles, and whistles and screams echoed in the hall. Sivaji the Boss, portrayed by Thalaiva a.k.a Rajnikant, had finally come to a theater near us.
These weren't the by-lanes of Chennai though, this midsummer pageantry unfolded in Columbus, Ohio in the very heart of Midwestern USA back in the summer of 2007.These are the kinds of experiences that have made living in the US exciting for me. I am not the intrepid adventurer who likes to sky dive and bungee jump to feel an adrenalin rush. My adventures instead consist of mellower yet novel experiences that induce wondrous delight, but more than anything else serve up an unexpected slice of desi culture in a foreign land with an inimitable dose of spicy tadka! While America itself has always been depicted as a melting pot, what is truly amazing about such expatriate experiences in the US is how much of this melting pot culture you see among Indians from diverse backgrounds.
Growing up as a south Indian in the predominantly North Indian culture of 1980s Delhi, constantly being teased about my “Madrasi” antecedents, often revealed petty provincial biases even amongst the most urbane classes. Yet, Indians in the US for the most part seem to be able to rise above these narrow perceptions. Everyone here becomes a “desi”, glad to be among fellow countrymen and reminisce about and recreate a shared culture miles away from the homeland. In fact the Sivaji experience that brought together so many Indian Americans of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds in one place is an experience that perhaps I could not have had even in Delhi at the time.
This is not to say that the process of transition is easy. For the majority of students and professionals coming to America, learning the work culture and social mores presents challenges for sure. However, these encounters are radically different from the mainstream NYC/LA stereotypes that often tend to dominate Indian imaginations. Like many students who choose university over location, undeniably there was a culture shock in store for me. Coming from a noisy, overpopulated, metropolitan, diverse city like Delhi and having to adjust to somewhat of a quiet, bucolic life in a city of about 800,000 people was definitely challenging for me. Every time I hit the main streets, I would keep wondering where all the people and cars were. My first winter in Columbus, having witnessed enough snow to last me a lifetime, every week that I had to trudge through the slushy slippery streets with heavy grocery bags I would pray to God for the miracle of an autorickshaw to take me home, pleading to be forgiven for all the fights that I had gotten into with autowallahs back home. As someone who had mostly had a mollycoddled existence, handling the heavy work load of graduate school while learning to cook things other than tea and toast was a good learning experience.
Crossing over from the impulsive college years and growing into adulthood is a daunting task under any circumstance, but do it in a new cultural setting is definitely like a roller coaster ride, exhilarating and dizzying at the same time, but something that in retrospect mostly seems like fun. Ten years ago, on a muggy Delhi night, when I boarded the plane to come to the US to attend graduate school, I had only a vague notion of what getting a PhD entailed, an even vaguer one about what my life would be like for the next decade. I felt equal measures of excitement and trepidation, and as the plane soared into the sky, I knew not what the future held but only a yearning to seize whatever lay ahead.
Undoubtedly I have made a good life for myself here but the mixed emotions persist. Every so often, I sorely miss the sounds, smells, tastes, and chaotic energy of Delhi. The eagerness to try out the newest Indian restaurant in my neighborhood is sometimes tinged with sadness at the inability to share these experiences with friends and family who would have shown up at an instant’s notice in the good old days. As liberating it is to be able to dress how you want without constantly attracting unwanted gazes, it saddens me to acknowledge that my monochrome wardrobe is mostly different shades of grey and not the riot of colors it used to be in India. As fun as it is to be able to celebrate Holi and Diwali among compatriots, the celebrations often feel constricted by our cookie cutter 9-to-5 lives where festivities have to be postponed to the weekend.
Yet, as I travel back and forth between USA and India, I realise that the India that I have idealised so much in my mind is in reality so drastically different from the one I left behind in 2004. And the one that I felt a foreigner in (USA), has slowly but steadily become more home to me than I am sometimes willing to admit. It is the home that I genuinely miss during my vacations in Delhi.