I salute thee, oh motherland!

I salute thee, oh motherland!

தாய்-மண்ணை வண்ணக்கம்!

Jana-gana-mana-adhinaayaka, jaya hé
Bhaarata-bhaagya-vidhaata.
Punjaab-Sindh-Gujaraat-Maraatha
Draavida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himaachala-Yamuna-Gangaa
Uchchala-Jaladhi-tarangaa.
Tava shubha naamé jaagé,
Tava shubha aasisa maangé,
Gaahé tava jaya gaatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-daayaka jaya hé
Bharata-bhaagya-vidhaata.
Jaya hé, jaya hé, jaya hé,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya hé!

http://india.gov.in/knowindia/national_anthem.php

He who laughs!

There is no turning back for this dream merchant who has an insatiable appetite for good movie making. I caught up with the RGV over the weekend when he was in Bangalore for the release of Contract.

Ram Gopal Verma is not your everyday filmmaker. He’s dabbled in almost all genres of cinema and created his own distinct style in horror and gangster flicks. I met the multitalented director, to talk about Contract, Phoonk, and everything else that makes him tick… here’s what I found out.


LRMS: Why another gangster flick (Contract)?
RGV: (smiles) Well, it’s not really just another gangster flick; it’s more about a backdrop of the underworld, character conflicts and a peculiar connection with terrorism. The story is different because it established that link between terrorism and the underworld.

LRMS: How come we haven’t really seen that much of contract, while Phoonk’s already on everyone’s must-watch list?
RGV: I guess that’s the case in Bangalore, only because of Sudeep.

LRMS: You’ve been considered to be a father when it comes to two genres in Bollywood – Horror and the Underworld?
RGV: These two genres are my favourites, as they allow me to play around with technique and be as different as I like being. Gangster movies are superb for the kind of characterization you can play with, while horror flicks allow you to get as technically innovative as you can. These are both highs to any director, so why not me?

LRMS: How did Sudeep happen?
RGV: We met a few years ago, when he approached me with the idea of remaking Sarkar in Kannada. I was quite interested after the meeting and watched a few of his movies in Kannada, My Autograph and Ranga SSLC, to name a few. I was very impressed with the screenplays and I saw the potential in him, which is why I offered him Phoonk. The character seemed to match his persona and that he was a good actor was confirmed. So I gave him the role.

LRMS: How is Sudeep as an actor?
RGV: He is very hard working, and would sit-up every night to get the dialogues straight. He isn’t a Hindi speaker, so had to work quite a bit on the language, but he has done a good job.

LRMS: We all know Sudeep is the type who can get very vocal with his thoughts on the set, was it very obvious in Phoonk?
RGV: Not really. Either he gave up or gave in to me (laughs) I guess he gave in to me, and let me hold the reins. He does however pay a lot of attention to every detail which is a good thing.

LRMS: You seem to like casting south Indian stars as male leads in your horror films, is this habit?
RGV: (laughs) Not really, Chakravarthy to me was more of a Hindi actor when I cast him in Vaastu Shaastra. He had already done Satya with me. Sudeep being cast in another male lead in a horror film is just by chance. I have no such habits.


LRMS: You like casting new faces in films any particular reasons?
RGV: Very simple reason – No baggage. New stars come with no baggage of previous characters and their unpredictability makes then much easier to mould. When I worked with the three Bachchans in Sarkar Raj, there was this baggage that all three actors carried with them. New actors don’t have that disadvantage.

LRMS: Future plans?
RGV: A film with Sudeep sometime in November, we haven’t decided on the subject or the genre as yet and a romantic soon!

LRMS: Three genres you’d like to direct a movie in?
RGV: A historical for sure. An adventure is my next pick and a comedy like Angoor.

LRMS: A possible return to south Indian cinema?
RGV: Not in the near future.

LRMS: The last south Indian movie you watched and loved?
RGV: Sivaji.

PS: He smiles! And laughs!




This is Aishwarya Kannan, by the way who was my only source of entertainment all through the interview! Thanks a tonne love!

In conversation with Vinay Pathak

It’s kind of hard to take someone like Vinay Pathak seriously, especially when you’ve seen Bheja Fry and loved it. This talented actor however is so much more, as we discover in a chit-chat with the man, the mayhem, the one and only, Vinay Pathak…

He is dressed in black and sports a hat, and if I am to be blamed for wanting to burst into a fit of laughter, I am ready to face my judgement. Stereotyped as a funny man, this actor is funny alright, but there’s a brilliant actor lurking somewhere, in those lovely crease lines that appear on his face when he smiles, and this interview seeks to discover that very, Vinay Pathak.

ME: You are considered to be the king of subtle humour, how do you react to that tag?
VP: I have no issues with it whatsoever, and if my fans think I’m worthy of such a tag, I am humble and privileged. I am however very conscientiously trying to not let myself get stereotyped, which is why I’ve tried every possible role offered as long as it’s interesting enough.

ME: Which character is the closest to what you are in real life?
VP: None of them actually. Vinay Pathak the actor is whoever the role wants him to be. Vinay Pathak the person is still a mystery to most (smiles).

ME: So you’re not a funny guy in real life?
VP: Am I? (stares and laughs) I don’t know (smiles).

ME: What is that one role you wished you had played?
VP: I always wanted to play Saif’s role in Omkara. I love that character, but Saif got to it before me. Such characters are immortalized. It’s like Manmohan Desai and Shakespeare are the same person – Creating characters that entertain and can never be forgotten. These characters are so deep, so full of life, it’s amazing. I hope someone doesn’t get to play my favourite character from The Tempest before I do, but that’s surely another character I’d love to play.

ME: You are everywhere, how come?
VP: Bheja Fry made me sell-able. I am now a sure profit and directors and producers don’t mind making a film with me in the main role, as they’re convinced I’ll make the money they want, and I am happy I can do that.

ME: Do you agree that you are a multiplex actor?
VP: As much as I hate that tag, that is the future! Yes, my films will take forever to reach a stage where I’ll have loyal audiences at all levels, but that isn’t frightening anymore, with multiplexes seeming to be the future of cinema viewing in the country.

ME: When did your career begin and how?
VP: My first film was Fire with Deepa Mehta, where I played a small role and then I did a few roles in films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Jism. I started turning down such roles only for the fear of being stereotyped in roles I didn’t really care for.

ME: Any South Indian stints?
VP: Yes, in 1995 I clearly remember I was offered a role in a movie with Charu Hassan, and was asked to arrive at Coimbatore for the music release. I couldn’t pay for the tickets and they refused to pay for it too. Later I realised that I lost the role. I wouldn’t mind a role down south in any language as long as it reads well.

ME: Any other releases we can look forward to this year?
VP: Lots! And guess what in 80 per cent of them I’m playing the leading role. You can look forward to Sourav Shrivastava’s Oh My God, Straight from iDreams directed by Parvati Balagopalan, SRK a remake of a Malayalam movie by Ajay Verma, Mumbai Chakachak from Suniel Shetty’s Popkorn films, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi from PNC with Rajat Kapoor and another film with Rajpal Yadav. That’s nine releases in all (smiles).

ME: Finally, what’s with the chemistry with Ranvir Shorey?
VP: We are 'just' good friends (laughs). We are completely diverse personalities, but when were thrown together in one scene the magic just happens. Like in that Channel V show House Arrest, where a bit of it was us as characters, but most of it was just spontaneous. We have chemistry and it’s brilliant it works (smiles).

I take leave of the madman and as much as I would love to keep talking to the actor who knows what he wants, he hurries away for a photo shoot. Don’t forget to catch him in his next release via Darjeeling, where he is more than a saving grace.

Pink Hindi Mein :)

I've always wondered how Pink - that mad crack song by Aerosmith would sound in Hindi, so I took the liberty to crucify it with my translation into Hindi...
This is NOT serious :)
But Bahut Enjoyable Jee :)

Gulabi, Mera naya paagalpan hain...
Haan, Gulabi, ka koi sawaal hi nahin...
Gulabi, aapke premi ki hoton par...
Kyonki Gulabi hain woh pyaar jo tune dhoond liya...

Gulabi hey tumhare angoor par...
Aur Gulabi kyonki tum itni woh ho...
Gulabi hein woh rang ishq ka...
Aur phir fashion ke ssath jaatha hain...

Gulabi, pehle nazar mein heen pyaar...
Haan Gulabi jab light bund kiyaa tho...
Aur Gulabi, ek patang jaise udne lagan hoon...
Aur Gulabi, sab kuch achcha hone wala hain...
Aaj raath hum jo bhi kar lenge...

Gulabi, tu mera saaras ban sakthi hoen...
Kyonki Gulabi, ek naya bhasha hain...
Gulabi ek badaa sa umbrella jaisa...
Aur Gulabi, usko kabhi bathaana mat...

Gulabi, pehle nazar mein heen pyaar...
Haan Gulabi jab light bund kiyaa tho...
Aur Gulabi, ek patang jaise udne lagan hoon...
Aur Gulabi, sab kuch achcha hone wala hain...
Aaj raath hum jo bhi kar lenge...

Main, tumhara premi hona chahtha hoon...
Main, tumhe rubber me wrap karna chahtha hoon...
Jitne Gulabi jaise ki hamarey chaadar...
Kyonki Gulabi mera manpasand crayon hain...

Gulabi, pehle nazar mein heen pyaar...
Haan Gulabi jab light bund kiyaa tho...
Aur Gulabi, ek patang jaise udne lagan hoon...
Aur Gulabi, sab kuch achcha hone wala hain...
Aaj raath hum jo bhi kar lenge...

Just in case you want to cross check (do it! it's more fun!)

Here's the original :)

Pink it's my new obsession

Pink it's not even a question

Pink on the lips of your lover,

'cause Pink is the love you discover

Pink as the bing on your cherry Pink

'cause you are so very

Pink it's the color of passion

'Cause today it just goes with the fashion

Pink it was love at first sight,

yea Pink when I turn out the light,

and Pink gets me high as a kite

And I think everything is going to be all right

No matter what we do tonight

Pink you could be my flamingo

'Coz pink is the new kinda lingo

Pink like a deco umbrella

It's kink - but you don't ever tell her

Pink it was love at first sight

Pink when I turn out the light

Pink gets me high as a kite

And I think everything is going to be all right

No matter what we do tonight

I want to be your lover

I wanna wrap you in rubber

As pink as the sheets that we lay on

Pink is my favorite crayon,

yeah Pink it was love at first sight

Pink when I turn out the light

Pink it's like red but not quite

And I think everything is going to be all right

No matter what we do tonight