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SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020 (PAGE 4) BOLLYWOOD-BUZZ Of AB and his 3 films Sunil Fernandes vain attempt to resist giving the “Chumma” as demand- ed by Bachchan. MR Inquilab Shrivastava is widely acknowledged as having Full credit however to Ms Katkar. With the iconic red enjoyed the longest reign as the Bollywood’s greatest number that she wore and the unabashed ‘chest bump’ to Bachchan, she more than matched the concupiscent superstar. Before you go Inquilab who? on me – this was calls for a kiss by the Superstar and the active ministra- the name given at birth to Amitabh Bachchan. tions of dozens of his minions – the supportive dockyard co-workers – who proffered their unqualified amorous He was named after the revolutionary slogan support to Bachchan’s most libidinous effort ever on “Inquilab Zindabad”. Amitabh, after all, was born in screen, at obtaining a kiss from his leading lady. 1942, an epochal year in India’s freedom movement, I suspect our Supreme Court judges were innocent of when Gandhiji gave the clarion call for the last major the ways of this song (Justice is supposed to be blind, freedom movement “Quit India” against the British, remember!). I say this because had they witnessed the before India’s Independence (1947). travails that Kimi Katkar had to resolutely endure in this It was the suggestion of the renowned Hindi poet song, then the “Vishakha Guidelines” would have been Sumitranandan Pant that his father Harivansh Rai introduced by the Apex Court at the start rather than Bachchan- a reputed poet himself- changed young towards the end of the 1990s! Inquilab’s name to “Amitabh” meaning “the one with boundless splendour” and boy did Amitabh live up to his KHUDA GAWAH (1992) new name in the years to follow! Since the father always Amitabh Bachchan could still pull it off as an honour- used the nom de plume ‘Bachchan’ for his writings, bound Afghan but it was a bit rich to have a Sridevi, with Inquilab Shrivastava metamorphosed into a name, that her heavy Madras-centric accent, pass off as an Afghan would probably rank as one of the most recognisable princess, that too well versed within the intricate and names ever in India – ‘Amitabh Bachchan’. taxing sport of ‘Buzkashi’ (Afghanistan’s national sport, Bachchan’s reign at the top lasted two whole decades. literally called “goat-grabbing” by horse riding men). She 1975-1995. His twenty year reign at the top, however, can wore a heavily embroidered Afghan costume with fancy almost be split into two almost equal halves. He was at headgear and this was sufficient for her to transit from his absolute apogee in the first ten years. The Midas Gawah’ (1992). which are the subject matter of thi piece. This film was Kilpauk to Kabul. MSA won his first and his only touch. He gave multiple hits year after year. He starred Notably, before Agneepath, MSA had tasted only produced by Yash Johar (father of present movie- Filmfare Best Director Award for this movie. Parts of this in outlandish films, did even more outlandish roles, and nominal success as a director. He was bit like Rohit moghul Karan Johar, who produced a 2012 remake of film were shot in actual locations. This was Afghanistan, hence he gets my vote for India’s greatest superstar ever Sharma, the batsman in his early years. Everyone saw this film, starring Hrithik Roshan, which in my view, after Rambo III but before Osama Bin Laden. beating Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna and Shahrukh the potential. No one saw the results. wasn’t a patch on the original one). DEATH OF MKA Khan, the respective superstars of their eras. AGNEEPATH (1990) HUM (1991) During the second decade of his superstardom, his MSA passed away due to a heart attack when he was hold on the top slot was tenuous, to say the least. But the Despite delivering monstrous hits, a National Best There were two songs that consistently topped music merely 45. He was shooting for a film in the USA. In a momentum of the first 10 years almost carried him Actor award eluded Amitabh Bachchan, until this film, charts in 1991. And in an unthinkable quirk, that only span of a dozen odd years, MSA managed to notch up a through. He took a break from films to enter politics. He whose title was based on a poem written by his father Bollywood is capable of, both the songs were lifted (or reasonably formidable filmography. He directed Vinod Khanna’s (fresh from a four stint at cleaning toilets and trounced a political heavyweight- former UP CM Harivansh Rai Bachchan. When the film was released, it “inspired” to quote one of Bollywood’s favourite gardening at Osho Rajneesh’s commune at Oregon, Hemavati Nandan Bahuguna- in the 1984 Lok Sabha didn’t have the trademark Amitabh baritone voice, and euphemisms) from the same song and the same singer! USA) comeback film ‘Insaaf’ (1987). I always felt his best elections. However, he resigned from his parliamentary he sounded more like Marlon Brando in ‘Godfather’. West African singer-musician Mory Kante’s songs years were ahead of him and fate snatched him before he seat of Allahabad in the wake of Bofors scandal a couple However, the alarmingly poor reception the film ‘Tama’ and ‘Yeke Yeke’ were the “inspiration” behind could actualise his potential. of years later. received in the first week made the producers nervous ‘Jumma Chumma De De’ from ‘Hum’ and ‘Tamma Yet the three films he helmed with Amitabh His second innings commenced with Shahenshah in enough to scurry to the recording studio and re-dub with Tamma Loge’ from the Madhuri-Sanjay Dutt starrer Bachchan, in three successive years from 1990 to 1992, 1987. But unlike the films of the 1970s, the ones made Amitabh’s original baritone voice. “Thanedar”. were not only the best films he ever made but also the post his return from the Parliament featured Bachchan Though this was a mainstream Bollywood film, MSA The manner in which ‘Tiger’ (Bachchan) seeks to per- best that Bachchan starred in the 1990s. A decade which who was then a poor caricature of himself – aging, tired, did give it a ‘neo-noir’ treatment, which makes it one of suade ‘Jumma’ (Kimi Katkar) to give him a “Chumma” and unable to convincingly carry the outlandish roles in Amitabh’s more memorable films. Danny Denzongpa’s (Kiss) would egregiously violate every known sexual was the last and possibly the worst decade for Bachchan masala action movies that he was effortlessly able to do performance as the lead villain – ‘Kancha Cheena’ – is a harassment laws in force, anywhere in the civilised as the lead actor, before the thespian graduated to avun- so a decade ago. This was the case except for his roles in reminder that Bollywood has criminally underutilized world. Kimi Katkar was teased, tossed, pulled, groped, cular ‘character’ roles at the turn of the millennium – a trilogy of Mukul S Anand (“MSA”) movies in this peri- this fine actor over the decades. Thankfully, MSA recog- bounced, man-handled, drenched by a hose pipe, Mohabbatein and Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in the od viz ‘Agneepath’ (1990), ‘Hum’ (1991), and ‘Khuda nised Danny’s acting skills. Apart from Bachchan, Danny slathered with beer foam and had parts of her outfit year 2000. is the only prominent actor to feature in all three films ripped apart at various times during the 7:57 song, in a (The author is an advocate on record in the Supreme Court). LIFESTYLE HEALTHLINES Make Society a Better Place to Live Social Distancing and joint health-tips Dr Manuj Wadhwa important for people with chronic arthritis. Here's So, how much should you be moving, even when why: Research tells us that regular exercise, includ- you are sheltering at home or in Lockdown or If you struggle from Joint pains, being in lock- ing low impact aerobic activities and stretching, can Quarantined? down or self Quarantine with Covid 19 virus could improve pain and function in people with arthritis A general goal as per Medical Research suggests leave you frustrated as you don't have many options and other joint conditions. Exercise is also an impor- to get a total of 30 minutes of moderately intense to keep you moving. Here are few important things tant stress buster and helps improve your sleep pat- to keep in mind to win this situation. activity on all, or at least 5 days a week. You can even Chronic pain affects crores of Indians, many of do static cycling at home at slow whom struggle with joint pains caused by conditions speed, low resistance for 10- 15 min like Osteoarthritis (arthritis with age) and once or twice daily. At this intensity, Rheumatoid Arthritis (called as Gathia). If you are your heart rate is up and you may one of those, then the idea of staying at home for get a little sweaty, but you should "Social distancing" might seem very frustrating and still be able to hold your stamina. troublesome. Seems pretty reasonable, right? After all if you can't go for walk in the garden, go The good news is that some activity to gym, play golf or meet your physical therapist or is better than no activity. So, even if even go around your neighbourhood, then how are you are unable to do a half hour you going to remain active on top of your chronic exercise, you can still benefit from health condition? Fortunately, there are a couple of doing less- even just 10 to 15 min tips that you can consider to manage your arthritic can be beneficial.