SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 (PAGE 4) BOLLYWOOD BUZZ "Censor board on OTT will be disaster" Gulzar’s Ijaazat Actress Swastika Mukherjee played the role of a troubled work. I have taken a lot of risks in my career which women Sunil Fernandes Patel - in the role of her lifetime). Circumstances, tradi- actors or heroines don’t. How do we better know Sampooran Singh Kalra?". This tions and timidity (on the hero's part) lead him to marry wife who is nearing 40 in Hindi web series Pataal Lok Sudha (Rekha) and just when Mahendra and Sudha are With the advent of OTT, do you think the actors query would have most of our Millennials and Gen Z premiered on Amazon Prime Video recently. Amid the are now exposed to a wide variety of good content, trying to get their marital life on tracks, circumstances characters or roles? scurrying for their smartphones, to Google the correct conspire to lead Maya back in their lives. How does the massive success of the web series which has been Nationally, yes of course. In Kolkata, I feel people still answer - Gulzar - the legendary lyricist, poet, director, trio deal with this situation? Maya isn't your quintessen- produced by Bollywood star Anushka Sharma's Clean have that television hangover which they really need to move screenplay/dialogue writer and winner of the Oscar, tial Bollywood vamp. She respects Mahendra and Sudha's on from because now language is not a barrier. The audience Grammy, Filmfare, National and countless other awards, marriage but finds herself unable to excise all ties with Slate Films Souvik Ghosh caught up with the bold Bengali nowadays has become apt in watching something with sub- in his six decades-long versatile and distinguished career. Mahendra, who himself is inextricably and inexorably performer for an exclusive interview where she spoke titles. Also In Kolkata, I have seen a lot of non-Bengali peo- drawn towards her, feeling responsible to protect her from ple coming to the theatre to watch Bengali films. Gulzar was a only teenager when Partition permanent- her self-destructing urges. Sudha's sense of composure about Pataal Lok, Bollywood and more. Censor board has been an issue in your film ly uprooted him from his native village of Dina in Pakistani (and pity for Maya) is torn asunder when she realizes that career. Do you think actors do get relief from censor How did you come across the 'Pataal Lok' script? Punjab's Jhelum district (ironically, a district in present- Maya will be a perennial, omnipresent (and ominous) fac- board in OTT platform? Initially when I gave the audition for Dolly (Dolly Mehra, day Pakistan has given two Prime Ministers to tor in their marriage. She finds this unacceptable and in a Everyone keeps on hearing about the introduction of cen- Mukherjee’s character in 'Pataal Lok'), I had very little infor- Independent India viz. Inder Kumar Gujral and fit of impetuous rage, leaves both - her marital home and sor board to the web platform. So I feel very scared not mation. I heard the script of the series after my audition was Manmohan Singh). He ultimately wound up in Bombay, Mahendra, without any forewarning or intimation. because of me but for losing out on a lot of experimental liked very much. So initially when I heard about the series, it doing odd jobs. The calumnies of partition, an unsympa- Years later, Sudha and Mahendra meet in the waiting works and contents. If I talk about 'Sacred Games' (a popu- was completely 'need to know' basis. Later on when I was a thetic family, disagreeable financial status and a disap- room of a railway station. And the story unfolds, stunning lar Indian web series on Netflix) which is still fresh in our part of the show, I got everything in detail including the proving father could not douse the flames of a poet that the viewer. Well, I don't want to spoil it for you. Hence I memory, sex really played a character there. Not only sexual character of Dolly, her scope, the episode and the scenes. So will say nothing further. Go watch and imbibe this master- content, the censor board will also run its scissors on poli- burnt bright inside him. He was fascinated by Tagore and we didn’t know a lot about Dolly other than the fact that she piece on a corona-induced languid evening. tics, moral policing (do moral policing she meant). If there is learnt Bangla so that he could read Tagore in original. is a ‘dog-person’ and is in a complicated marriage. You can't write about Ijaazat without devoting attention a censor board, then one cannot show caste politics, CBI, Two fortuitous events conspired to give Hindi Cinema After portraying varied characters over the Hindu-Muslim irrationality, drug problem in the film. It will one of its effulgent gems. Firstly, years, how do you approach to a new character be a disaster for the people who are part of the craft if censor Gulzar was forced to leave his family now? board comes into play. and stay alone in a rented accommo- I don’t think I have actually followed any process ever in How was the floor atmosphere during the dation in suburban Bombay where his my life as far as my work is shooting for 'Pataal Lok' with so many actors? neighbors were Shailendra, Sahir concerned. Of course for The floor atmosphere was very warm. All cast Ludhianvi and Rajinder Krishan, all Dolly, I had to go through members were like really taken care of in the best genius songwriters themselves who some research work because possible manner. We faced pretty odd weather. I had had already established themselves in for her anxiety issues, as we a dream team on set. Bollywood and thereby provided generally don’t get to know Did you get in touch with Anushka Sharma Gulzar with an unplanned entrepot about mental health prob- in the course of shooting? into Bollywood. lems. I am very intuitive, so No, I didn’t meet her during the shoot. I met I really can’t have so many Secondly, a transient quarrel Karnesh (Karnesh Sharma, producer and Anushka calculations or setting of between arguably the finest music Sharma’s brother) quite a few times. Anushka I think crafts of the characters in director and finest lyricist that had gone later to visit the set but I was not in Delhi my mind. Bollywood has seen - SD "Dada" (where shooting was going on) that time. You have been in Burman and Shailendra, during the Recently two big budget Hindi films have Bengali film industry making of Bimal Roy's classic Bandini been announced to be premiered on Amazon for almost 20 years now (1963), forcing Bimal Roy to look at Prime Video. The step has drawn displeasure and also acted in several an alternative song-writer and hence from INOX instantly. Do you think the pre- Hindi films besides Gulzar got to write his hit song - "Mora Gora Ang Lai Le" to its music. RD "Pancham" Burman's musical score was a miere of films on OTT platform will become a Bengali web series. Is filmed on Nutan, and the rest as they say, was history [For fitting match to the cinematic excellence that Gulzar new normal in post-Covid world? Hindi web series the the uninitiated and in order to give context, the record for dished out. There were four songs in this movie, -all female I think this has been happening for quite some next destination for the maximum number of Filmfare Best Director Awards solos rendered by Asha Bhonsle - who won a National time now. This has come to the focus because few you? Do you plan like does not belong to Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Award for her well-deserved efforts. prominent film producers have decided to give their this? Sanjay Leela Bhansali or even a Karan Johar. It belongs to "Mera Kuch Samaan" ranks amongst my all time films to OTT. It seems like it is happening now. My No I don’t have any plans Bimal Roy, who has won 7 awards from 7 nominations favourites. Gulzar's lyrics, Pancham's music and Asha's film 'Onek Din er Por' released on OTT platform last actually. It was not a very calculated move to do a bit of work circa 1954-1964. Whenever he was nominated, no other vocals - all seamlessly combine to give us a song for the year. Then there were so many other films (which released in Bollywood. I do want to work outside Kolkata and the director could win. Bimal Roy was a veritable nursery, ages. The Ultimate Heartbreak Song. Unlike the usual Bengali film industry. I want to work in other languages. I digitally). But the thing is that the moment something hap- rule, where the tune is created first by the music director pens in Bollywood, it just gives the feeling it is happening for where some of the most talented directors, lyricists and want to grow as an actor and for that moving out of comfort and the lyrics are set to it by the lyricist, Gulzar wrote this the first time. And also because these films have such promi- technicians learnt and perfected their art - but this merits zone is very important. Since I have been a part of commer- song first and then gave it to Pancham, to compose a tune nent faces. The decision has come as a shock because people another article, for another day]. cial as well as art films, web series, contemporary ‘sensible’ He directed his first film 'Mere Apne' in 1971, (memo- out of it. Pancham read the elaborate poetic lines and films, I really have to be very choosy when I am working in never apprehended films with these stars can ever release on OTT. rable acting by Meena Kumari, in his one of her last films tossed it aside, realizing it would be a near-impossible task Kolkata because I don’t want to repeat myself. So I really before her untimely death). Ijaazat ('Permission') was the to set these lines to a fitting tune. "Tomorrow you will give have to give a lot of time for those scripts to come to me But also we don’t really know whether the theatre houses will be opened. 18th film directed by Gulzar and possibly his best, based me a copy of the Times of India and tell me create a tune which will really excite me as an actor and give me some- on the prolific Bengali writer Subodh Ghosh's book and out of it!!" is what Pancham famously told Gulzar. But then thing that I have not done before. But also the amount of Yes, there is so much uncertainty going on. Nobody eponymously titled Bengali film 'Jatugriha' (1964). Pancham wasn't called a genius for nothing. works that happen in the Bengali film industry being a knows what is really going to happen. The actors really have Bollywood has a disreputable history of trivializing/car- The Epilogue of "Mera Kuch Samaan" is probably the regional one, is less than Bombay (Hindi film industry). very less to say about it. I as an actor would like people to I also feel the scope of people experimenting with ideas watch my films on any platform. The rest is completely pro- icaturizing the "other woman". She is the pouting, purring, greatest couplet Gulzar ever penned. A fitting epitaph for a (in Kolkata) is less. So I just always wanted to work outside ducers’ call. skimpily clad sex kitten, out to ensare the gullible husband love story, whose life-span may have been ethereal but Kolkata to have experience of doing different kinds of works Any of your films are stuck due to the pandemic? and wreck the household of the virtuous silently suffering, whose memories are eternal." and that is how I have done whatever little bit of work that I Yes. My Bengali film which I did with Arjunn Dutta called tear-jerking wife. Ijaazat too delved on the role of the "Ek Ijaazat de do bas have done outside Kolkata. I just never wanted to do 'Guldasta' that was slated for Apr 24 release. It was a very "other woman" in a marriage but with a rare sensitivity, Jab isko dafnaungi Bollywood (act in Bollywood) for the sake of doing it. I have important film for my career. Also Hindi film 'Dil Bechara', refinement and cinematic nous that not only defied the Main bhi wahi, so jaungi got a lot of offers after 'Detective Bomkyesh Bakshi' but I which was slated for May 8 release, didn’t release. extant puerile stereotypes but set a cinematic standard Main bhi wahi, so jaungi didn’t take them up because I didn’t think they are going to Are those films going to release on OTT platform? that has rarely been equaled let alone surpassed. (I seek only this permission from you, that when I give me what I wanted. The only concern during the entire Can you give any insight to it? Mahendra (Naseeruddin Shah) is in love with the free- finally bury your memories, I too shall put myself to rest, span of my career was I wanted to perform, contribute to my I have no idea about it. I have not heard anything about spirited, somewhat reckless, poetess Maya (Anuradha permanently, next to them) art and I wanted people to remember me after seeing my it. (IBNS-TWF) HEALTHLINES PERSONALITY Lifestyle Changes Vs Fertility Hockey Legend passes into history Dr Richa Sharma, Dr Amit Basnotra weight and height. Though it does not actually measure Kanwal Singh training at Jallandhar Sports College. the percentage of body fat, it is used to estimate a Hockey was his life and all he wanted was to see With World going through Corona pandemic, ech healthy body weight based on a person's height. Due to On May 25, the Nation lost its legendary hockey wizard, genera and sector of society has own problems and to India win the Gold once again at the Olympics. Balbir its ease of measurement and calculation, it is the most S. Balbir Singh Sr. From playing a starring role in 1948 Singh never got the recognition he deserved. In the add to it Lockdown challenges which has for sure affect- widely used diagnostic tool to identify weight problems ed the daily routine of everyone. Olympics to getting named among the 16 legends chosen 1980"s he donated all his medals and the historic within a population, usually whether individuals are Melbourne Blazer to the Sports Authority of India for Our concern as patient and as Doctor as how we can underweight, overweight or obese still maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep ourself positive by the International Olympic Committee across modern a museum. But till date no Museum has been built and Classification of BMI- whereabouts of his medals and Blazer are unknown. besides so many other queries in mind related to the WHO classification of obesity- Olympic history, he was surely the greatest hockey impact of prevailing dynamics. In order to provide riot relief to the affected following Category BMI(kg/m2) players of all time. the 1984 Delhi Sikh Riots, he sold many of his blazers. Concern for a childless couples is how naturally we Under weight <18.5 can think of planning a baby. But for S. Balbir Singh the most remarkable and Considered the greatest hockey player after Dhyan Normal weight 18.5-24.9 Chand, S. Balbir Singh was born in Haripur Khalsa, How our Lifestyle can Impact our Overweight 25-29.9 special moment of his life was winning the first Jalandhar and did his education from Lahore's Sikh Reproductive potential. Obesity class 1 30-34.9 Olympic Gold medal for the Independent India and National College. He started his career as Goal-keeper Life style comprise of all those activities which we do Obesity class 2 35-39.9 that too against a country which had colonised India and went on to become country's greatest Centre in day to day life starting from eating to sleeping and to Obesity class 3 40+ for over 190 years. It was the London Olympics of add to it the stress of personal and professional Can weight loss improve fertility and how much 1948 and the finals was against the hosts, England. Forward. S. Balbir Singh Ji was part of the last team of life.Ultimately who is the sufferer? Its our own mind and should we wait before palning baby ? Barely a year since the departure of British from undivided Punjab which won the title in 1947 National body and all this carry many health consequences, It has been demonstrated that weight loss can Indian Subcontinent- more than sports it was Championship. The recent Movie Gold by Akshay improve the fertility of obese women pride which was at stake. through the recovery of spontaneous ovu- The Wembley stadium was jam-packed and lation, whereas others will have improved crowds were cheering for the hosts. It was response to ovarian stimulation in infertil- reverberating with the sounds of the English ity treatment. fans, but when later Indians dominated the In males weight loss helps in sperm game, the crowd started rooting for the chal- production besides balancing the hormone lengers. It was a proud moment because the levels in the body. team was about to face the country which had Therefore, it is proposed that following ruled India for a long period. A win in the the initial assessment of infertility and finals would mean witnessing the tricolor of body mass index or other measurement of independent India rising high above the obesity Union Jack. India defeated England in their Modalities of weight loss own turf with Balbir Singh scoring two of the Various weight management interven- tions including - four goals that India struck in the finals. To * Life style modifications/Diet/Exercise beat the erstwhile colonial power on their / home turf was special. * Pharmacotherapeutic approaches Recalling the moment at the Chandigarh Life style modification press club, he said "As our national anthem First option recommended is- Life style was being played and the tri-colour was going modification up, I felt that I too was flying with the flag. The including some reproductive disorders. Key to Successful treatment depends on ability to sense of patriotism that I felt was beyond any How is body weight related to fertility and any reduce body weight by life- style modifications which other feeling in the world," Gender bias ? include diet modification and exercise. Our body weight has an important role on our The only medals he had were his three Stress management also forms an important Olympic Golds, London 1948, Helsinki 1952, chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Its effects are part of the treatment. seen not only in female but also has an effect of male fer- Melbourne 1956. His world record for most Weight loss helps in improvement in reproductive goals scored by an individual in the men's tility potential.This is irrespective of the way of concep- function which includes menstrual function and fertility tion- be it natural or through IVF, weight definitely has hockey final of the Olympics still remains Weight loss before infertility treatment improves ovu- unbeaten. He scored five goals against a direct correlation with the ability to bear a baby. lation rates in women with PCOS, but there are limited Netherlands in the finals of 1952 Olympics. He Obesity and overweight are common conditions in the data that it improves fecundity or lowers pregnancy was also the recipient of India's first Padma these days showing a rising trend due to life style complications. changes besides the hereditary component. There is a The ideal amount of weight loss is unknown, but a 5% Shree awarded in the category of Sports. He very high prevalence of obesity in the infertile popula- decrease of body weight might be clinically meaningful. even lit the sacred flame at Asian Games, held in 1982. Kumar was based on his life. He was surely one of tion and many studies have highlighted the link between Besides,what we think and perceive has a lot on all Balbir Singh even coached the 1975 Indian hockey greatest athletes the country has ever produced. His obesity and infertility especially PCOS and its due to the what we plan and achieve.Same applicable to our health team that won India's only World Cup Gold. At 93 he contribution to the field of Hockey is unmatched. His abnormal secretion of other hormones which underlies and well being.Hence there is role of- was kind hearted and always kept a Hockey stick along passing to oblivion has left a void so deep that it can many reproductive disorders observed in this population * Psychological intervention his bedside. Hockey was his passion. At 2012 never be fulfilled. The first to hold the national flag at What is BMI and what it indicates ? * Behavioral problem, damaged self confidence, Olympics, Balbir Singh, was honoured as one of the 16 Independent India's first Olympics and the first to Weight is calculated in proportion to height and is increased levels of anxiety and depression benefit with iconic Olympians. experience the feeling of flying with the flag. He medically described as BMI(Body Mass Index). psychological counseling , both individual and group My father who was also a former hockey player regarded August 12, 1948 as the Greatest Day in The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a counseling. recalls the precious moments of his life when the India's Sporting History. statistical measure of body weight based on a person's (The authors are senior IVF Consultant and Senior Gastroentrologist) hockey legend taught him few skills while he was (The author is Scholar of Sikh History. )