SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2018 (PAGE 4)

BOOK­REVIEW PERSONALITY Brij Katyal bids adieu Stirring, bold and blunt to "Embers the beginning and embers the end of Mirpur" achieved so much, since the Lalit Gupta by Dr Kulvir Gupta primitive days to the present Bollywood's Circe-like seductions—fame, times, in spite of the deadly Publishers: Olympia Publishers 60 Cannon Street, London. glamour, the fairy tale promise of great wars." wealth–have been attracting from inception Pushp Saraf Kulvir's is the telling story of Incidentally Dr Kulvir's perhaps every native of Jam- was the last manuscript of a the dreamers, ambitious small-town aspirants, During my frequent per- mu and Kashmir and of the book which was seen by my writers, poets, musicians, and many others sonal trips to Jammu after sub-continent as a whole who father before he passed away with the hope that talent, boldness, and luck 2000 I met Dr Kulvir Gupta became victim of genocidal on November 25, 2017 (by the will catapult them into the big league. through my father Mr Om retribution in 1947 when way Dr Kulvir's birthday and Prakash Saraf with there was savage vio- also the day of the fall of Mir- One such dreamer was Brij Katyal, a Jam- whom he and his lence marked by rap- pur). In his own hand father muite, who in the early 1950s ventured to leave family ---wife ing and butchering. wrote in what has turned out hometown for Bombay, the hub of cine- Rashmi and daugh- As a reader, com- to be his last comment about ma and after initial days of struggle succeeded ters Sonali, Shwaita mentator and a jour- a book: "I had known Dr Kul- in etching his name in Bollywood hall of fame. (both medical pro- nalist I have read and vir for more than twenty-sev- For Brij Katyal, the crowning glory came fessionals) and heard several shock- en years but simply as a when he penned the story of Shashi Kapoor Sunanda (an acade- ing accounts of atroci- widely-acclaimed dental sur- and Nanda starrer ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile' in mician) --- shared a ties committed in the geon. It is only now when he 1965, a super hit and a golden jubilee film close bond. Soon I name of the religion is pleased to share his soul- which ran for 50 consecutive weeks in Mum- on and Sikhs was enthused with nation-building spirit. was to develop rap- Dr Kulvir Gupta stirring memoirs with me, I bai cinemas like Minerva and Lakshmi The- in Mirpur and Muzaf- The culturally oriented young men like J.C. port with them and must confess I was not so atres. The great financial success of musical farabad and Muslims in Jam- Bharti and Brij Katyal who were attracted to any mention of him at a gath- much aware of his non-pro- romance film, a popular genre in the 1960s, ering would evoke an identi- mu seven decades ago. There leftist ideology joined National Cultural fessional qualities of head made theatre owners to gift a brand new car cal remark about his being are hair-raising tales which and heart. As a migrant from Front, the cultural wing of the National Con- make one shudder in disbelief and rupees 50,000, to film's writer Brij Katyal. "the most competent and his ancestral town of Mirpur, ference. Bharti reminiscences that how over the extent of human sav- In a film career spanning more than 50 most expensive dental sur- along with countless others National Cultural front with Dharmveer agery. Whoever believes years, Brij Katyal’s notable films as script and geon" in the city. I came homes ("Women have which checked their move- in November 1947, in day and Chopra as its secretary-general decided to across another side of his per- "barbarism is the natural dialogue writer and screen playwright were state of mankind" must find always been the reward for ment towards Mirpur. Dr Kul- night search of shelter which stage plays about unsung characters and sonality before long. Behind a Salaam Memsaab-1961, Burmah Road-1962, vindication in these details of the victors since times imme- vir does raise the question: was nowhere in sight when heroes. The play staged included Raavan, tough and disciplined exteri- Darasingh: Ironman-1964, Ek Din Ka Bad- terror and vengeance. Almost morial… while men were "For reasons, not clear till murder, arson, abduction Chander Shekhar Azad, Manzil Ki Taraf, Dinu or --- he had served in the shah-1964, Saat Samundar Paar-1965, Yeh all of them, however, are massacred and taken as date, the Indian Army did not and rape was the order of the Bhai Pant’s Bawa Jitto and Shiv Parvati. Army Dental Corps for a Raat Phir Na Aaygi-1966, Aamne-Saamne- third-person narrations slaves," he writes). It is the reach Mirpur and hell broke day, Dr Kulvir's memoirs Katyal used to enact female roles in the dra- decade before he made his 1967, Parivar-1968, Kismat-1969, Vishwas- shorn of specific information reader's turn to squirm in his loose on Mirpur and its pop- cover seventeen years and mas. Other members of the team were D. P. mark as a private practitioner 1969, Anokha-1975, Bhoola Bhatka-1976, as if to camouflage the writer's or her chair ashamed and ulation." He leaves it at that ten months, commencing at Trikha-director, Dina Nath Goel-music, B.L. --- there was an extremely the age of five. No wonder 's Ajooba-1991, Hai Meri own extremely painful per- embarrassed for living in the time as his focus is on the Kerni, Ram Kumar Abrol and Kumar Kuldeep sensitive and straightforward because of or maybe due to Jaan-1991, Chhota Sa Garh-1996, Krazy Crazy sonal experiences. The only midst of depraved minds. unfortunate land and its peo- who later directed the first Dogri film Gallaan person. He desperately want- common feature in them is Dr Kulvir makes a special tragedies his faith in the 'col- Krezy... 2009. His well-known TV series ed time off his professional ple. One travels with him all Hoyiaan Bitiaan. the "Alibegh camp" which was mention of his family's Mus- lective wisdom of the human include Aashiq Biwi Ka- 2009, Pal Chin-1998. work to put his inner feelings through --- from a pampered It was in 1953 that Brij Katyal having good a reality and where they were lim friends and acquaintanc- race' remains intact. Life has He had also directed two films Premika-1980 in black and white. childhood in Mirpur to the command over Urdu, Hindi and English lan- kept as refugees to be subject- es who cried over their plight tested him at every step. In and Pasand Apni Apni- 1971. In the early One day in between his new abode in another corner guages, and gifted with good handwriting, ed to indiscriminate killings, and tried to help to the maxi- between, a romantic liaison 1970s, Rajesh Khanna's movie "Seema", hectic daily routine he of Jammu and Kashmir after took a bold decision and moved to Bombay to rapes and kidnappings. mum extent away from the was cut short by family directed by Suraj Prakash had Brij Katyal as showed me a small write-up In sharp contrast, Dr Kul- a tough battle for existence in preying eyes of their tormen- responsibility and commit- the writer never saw completion. try his luck as a film writer. His first major he had written --- it was an vir is bold and blunt. His different cities of the country ment, intellectual wander- break came in 1958 when he wrote dialogues exceptionally balanced tors belonging to their own During 1990's he also ventured into the description is unvarnished of during which he studied ings into ancient civilizations description of his turbulent faith. One of them --- Master world of television and penned down many and screenplay for Kedar Sharma's film incidents which have been ancient civilisations to under- to find an explanation for his childhood in the prosperous Abdul Aziz of Datyal village, popular and financially successful TV serials Milan. Starring Ajit, Nalini Jaywant, Daisy firmly etched on his mind and stand why they had been cho- sufferings, human foibles Mirpur town of the undivided about "five miles away from like 'Dillagi' and 'Saans'. Directed by Neena Irani, and Helen, the film's success paved the disturbing him since child- sen by history to endure a and strengths. Millions of Jammu and Kashmir from Alibegh camp" --- rescued way for Katyal to stake his claim as a talented hood causing many sleepless nerve-wracking ordeal. people in India and Pakistan Gupta, these had become very popular for the where he and his family were kidnapped Hindu girls and writer. nights. He does not brush Dr Kulvir shows solemni- especially would identify characters which seemed very real. uprooted in 1947 like million women and ensured their In his more than 50 years of career in Bom- unsavoury details under the ty and equanimity in reaching with him and see in his work Eighty-five years old Brij Katyal, who others in the sub-continent to bay, Brij Katyal wrote scripts, screenplays, undergo sufferings which put carpet which lesser beings repatriation to India staving the conclusion: "Religions a true reflection of their own expired on September 13, 2018, at , humanity to shame. I could would have done out of shame off threats from predators. He and faiths emerged to keep life rise like a phoenix. His is was born in 1933 at Jullahaka Mohalla, Jam- and dialogues for a number of films and TV clearly notice the fire in his or guilt or both. He is stoic as mobilised the local youth con- the strife away from man's a pioneering work that fills in mu, in the family of Sardari Lal Katyal, the serials and also directed two films. Profes- belly to write his story taking if stubbornly resisting tears vincing them "that whatever life but instead became the an important gap in the his- grandson of Rai Sahib Col. A R Katyal, who sionally he was well respected and admired by a holistic view rather than enough of which he must have was happening around them very cause of strife and torical literature of unique was Quarter Master General in Maharaja many as a ‘beautiful human being’. being swayed by his own trau- shed in the past. He has was neither civilised nor wars…. Exploitation of the and controversial State of Ranbir Singh's Army. On the personal front, Brij Katyal ma. shown exceptional strength of Islamic and the victims were ignorant and the deprived by Jammu and Kashmir. Inter- By 1948-49, Brij Katyal, who had grown up remained unmarried and had adopted a son. The embers smouldering character as a chronicler part of a society with whom the religious preachers, who estingly he is averse to beg- His excessive love for the adopted son, for within him have finally found as a soft-spoken handsome young man was while talking about the forced they had shared their joys have nothing to do with the ging anything from God, his already acting the role of Sita in Ramlila whom he always spent lavishly and had put all their expression in a stirring and sorrows for centuries." religion or by the pro- 157-page autobiography disappearance of his father Creator, and telling a lie! He staged at the Dewan Mandir Natak Smaj. He his property in his name proved to be a heart- The agony of the people of pounders of extreme ideolo- "Embers the beginning and along with other relatives and has been the beneficiary of a graduated in 1952. Narrating the firsthand breaking decision for him. Because during his Mirpur was prolonged gies are the main cause of embers the end of Mirpur" friends all of whom were sincere, strong and self- account of the young days of Brij Katyal, the last days, when he suffered from rectal can- because of the quiet with- tensions around the world. with his daughters success- eventually discovered to have respecting family system led octogenarian J. C Bharati, a well-known cer, his adopted son did not take proper care been killed in a cold-blooded drawal of the Dogra forces Being an optimist I am confi- by a loving mother and car- fully persuading him to relin- Radio and theatre actor and a senior contem- of him and showed him to a proper doctor. He quish his professional fashion, and the indignities who were supposed to protect dent that the collective wis- ing elder brothers in his porary of Brij Katyal, informed that during the lived alone in his Bhayeander flat. Before get- responsibility for pursuing inflicted on women including them, a delayed accession and dom of man will sail human- formative years. His faith in his dream. his mother as they struggled the pre-occupation of Indian ity through the present day it remains unshaken though period immediately after Independence ting admitted into the charitable hospital The outcome is that to walk towards safety after armed forces in the nearby chaos. It is a great consola- he is modest about mention- everybody was fired up with patriotic fervor. Avedna Sadan, he was writing a film named though a personal memoir Dr being evicted from their Kotli, Rajouri and Poonch tion that the man has ing his own contributions." Jammu's youth like elsewhere in the country as Mahek. ART AND CULTURE MOVIE­REVIEW The Silver Nomads of the Himalayas A one-time watch entertainer The nomadic Gujjars and Bakkarwals living between the with their flock of buffalos where they engage in cultiva- is the story of the struggles Singh doesn’t succeed much. There’s no doubt that he has han- tion and come back to the plains in the winters. Bakkar- higher mountain reaches to the plains of Jammu in the of the common man with regards to the inconsistent dled some moments deftly and does make viewers aware about wals are still the ones who travel to as far as Dras and how acute the problem in question is. But his execution leaves winters are also known for the beautiful jewellery that Kargil from Jammu plains as part of their traditional electric supply. Sushil Kumar Pant aka SK (Shahid a lot to be desired. their women wear. Kavita Suri reports in the first person. nomadic journeys. Kapoor), Lalita Nautiyal aka Nauti () BATTI GUL METER CHALU is almost 161 minutes long In all my growing up years in the Himalayan state of The Gujjar and Bakkarwal females are fond of jewellery and Sundar Mohan Tripathi () are thick and it’s first half could have been easily shortened by around Jammu and Kashmir, the nomadic Gujjars and Bakkar- and have a fascination for the necklaces. Their necks are friends. All three are based in Tehri in . 30 minutes. The beginning sequences depicting the friendship wals fascinated me, one for their nomadic lifestyles and embellished by many necklaces. Women wear a long While SK is a lawyer who likes to earn a quick buck by black- of the trio are strictly okay. Things begin to heat up once Nau- their oscillations between the higher reaches of moun- chain made of silver around their necks known as ‘Gani’ mailing people and arm-twisting them, Nauti runs a boutique ti decides to date SK and then Sundar. The scene where Sun- tains to the plains of Jammu in the winters along with and ‘Haseeri’. They also wear necklaces. One variety of shop and dreams of becoming a top designer. Sundar is a sim- dar spots Nauti and Sundar kissing is quite dramatic. Also, the their sheep and horses twice a year, secondly also for the the tribal necklaces has a triangle pendant, studded with pleton who has recently started his factory, called UK Packag- entire Mussoorie sequence raises laughs and also has a great beautiful jewellery that their women wear. a beautiful stone in the centre of it. ing. Both SK and Sundar have feelings for Nauti. Nauti decides confrontational moment. The intermission point is dramatic. Perhaps, this is the reason that my love for silver jew- It symbolizes 'evil eye' and mainly utilized to avert bad to date both of them one by one and decides to announce her Post-interval, the scene of SK threatening the SPTL lawyer in ellery rose to the level of a passion and donning the same luck. Another type of silver necklace is known as “Dod- decision as to whom she’ll eventually get into a relationship the ombudsman office is whistle worthy. But the real fun begins in all these past years till now. Though I have myself a mala”, the one which is made of small pieces of silver with. At first, she dates SK and she has a lovely time. Then, it’s with the courtroom sequence. The way SK catches hold of Gul- huge treasure of silver ornaments accumulated over the together and each piece pointed at the end. Another sil- Sundar’s turn and he floors her with his simplicity and hon- nar Rizvi’s () soft-porn book and reads aloud an years from Jaipur to Sadar Bazar to Dilli Haat and even ver necklace which is very popular among the women of excerpt will bring the house down! A few of the facts revealed by SK are also startling. The as far as Turtuk in the farthest end of Nubra Valley of these tribes is “Hamel" necklace which is made of coins. The coins are strung on a thread with a heavy pen- climax ideally should have been a highpoint dant. The “Jomala” and “Hansli” are the other but sadly, it’s a point where the film comes necklaces. down. Moreover, the villains in the story are Majority of married women of these twin not powerful enough. SK is fighting such a huge electricity company and he has even got nomadic tribes have their nose pierced. They put the public on his side during the course of his nose pins which are made of silver on their nose. fight. Yet, at no point does the company Nose pins come in different sizes which denote threaten him or his family members or phys- whether the girl is married or not. Among few Guj- ically assault him. They quietly let things hap- jar older women, nose is pierced from both sides. pen and this bit looks very unconvincing. While the unmarried girls wear a small string of is one of the major reasons silver, the married ones have their nose decorated why the film succeeds to an extent. He’s in top with a big silver ring studded with stones or pearls. form and will be loved for his comic timing. The “Murki” is another nose ornament, sus- In the second half, he’s a riot! Also, he gives a pended from the Centre part of the nose which is wonderful performance in the emotional mostly worn by young girls. Nose pins come in dif- sequences. Shraddha Kapoor is over the top ferent sizes which denote whether a woman is sin- in the beginning sequences and it’s only in the gle or married. The smallest nose-pin known as a serious scenes of the second half where she ‘Nali? is worn by girls; a slightly bigger nose pin or scores. Divyenndu is quite sincere and as ?Teera? is worn by older girls while married always, gives an able performance. Yami Gau- women wear large and intricate nose-pins known tam has a very late entry and gives a fine per- as “Loung?. esty. One day, SK sees them cosying up to each other and he formance. However, the scenes where she gets teased in the loses his mind. He stops talking to them and leaves for Mus- These tribal women also tastefully decorate courtroom might not be liked by the female audiences. Atul soorie. Meanwhile, Sundar is slapped with a bill of Rs. 54 lakhs Srivastav (Murarilal Tripathi; Sundar’s father) has some their ears with silver. by the private electricity company SPTL. He tries his best to important scenes and is nice. Mukesh S Bhatt (Upreti) has Their ears droop with the weight of a dozen find a solution to it and explain to the concerned authorities quite a lot of screen time but doesn’t contribute much. Sush- “Balis” or silver rings with bells. The “Jhumkas” that it’s impossible that he has consumed so much of electric- also dangle and tinkle. They also wear a fancy sil- ity. Moreover, due to power cuts, he’s already using generator mita Mukherjee (Judge) tries to do a Saurabh Shukla of JOL- ver cap or crown on the head known as 'Chonk which has put additional burden on his finances. Realizing that LY LLB but looks forced. Sudhir Pande (D N Pant) is strictly Phool' which is a bowl-shaped ornament fastened he might have to sell off his ancestral house to pay off the dues, okay and some of his scenes, shown in the trailer, are removed to the head. The wrists have big weighty silver Sundar approaches SK for help. But SK is hurt that Nauti chose from the final cut. His entire track of trying to find a second Ladakh and Leh market too, the fascination for the silver “karas’. Sundar over him. Hence, he ridicules both of them. With no wife doesn’t add at all to the main plot. Farida Jalal (Dadi) and jewelry of the nomads of Jammu and Kashmir still The Gujjar brides also are decorated with silver orna- other solution in hand, Sundar decides to end his life. What Supriya Pilgaonkar (Beena Nautiyal) are wasted. Samir Soni remains at the top. ments like silver chains, silver Dolara, silver sargast, sil- happens next forms the rest of the film. (Sanjay Baduriya) looks tired and it seems like his voice has The exotic Gujjar and Bakkarwal tribal women wear ver mahail, silver gani, silver earrings, silver bangles, sil- -Garima and Vipul Rawal’s story is simple which been dubbed. Rajendra Chawla (Janak Khanduri; officer at the heavy and artistic jewellery most of which is made of sil- ver rings etc. held a lot of promise but is not put together well. The basic complaint office) and Sukhvinder Chahal (Pankay Bahugana; ver. These are the members of the twin Scheduled Tribes Men sometimes wear rings of silver but they usually premise has potential as it’s very relatable but it doesn’t come SPTL official who gets caught in sting operation) are quite nice. Bijendra Kala (Deendayal Gangotri Travels owner) is as always of Gujjars and Bakkarwals who with their unique social, don’t put on heavy jewellery. The typical Gujjar kameez out properly. Siddharth-Garima’s screenplay is engaging only good. Vikas (Sharib Hashmi) is unrecognizable while Badrul cultural and linguistic identities form the third largest or shirt sometimes has silver buttons. Silver beads hooked at places. There are far too many flaws and they get noticed easily. The film also reminds one of another courtroom dra- Islam (Kalyan) is decent. But their track is such that viewers community in Jammu and Kashmir. to the buttons produce a sound. Silver studs called Gujjars, primarily a nomadic community, over a pas- ma, the JOLLY LLB series. Moreover, a crucial development might not be able to comprehend its significance. Anushka “mogla” are used as cuff links. Silver anklets called as is similar to Shahid’s own film CHUP CHUP KE [2006]. Sid- Ranjan (Rita) gets no scope. sage of time have adopted a sedentary lifestyle in villages “Jhanjra” are worn along with the “Anguthra” on a silver in the plains bordering the foothills and have taken to the dharth-Garima’s dialogue has some funny punchlines. But the On the whole, BATTI GUL METER CHALU is an average, ring on the big toe. excessive use of terms like ‘thehra’ and ‘bal’ could have been cultivation of land as their primary occupation. Howev- one-time watch entertainer that appeals only in parts. The film All along the traditional nomadic routes of these twin avoided. In fact, the film’s length could have been reduced by has lot of flaws and loose ends and Shahid Kapoor’s entertain- er, a marginal population of Gujjars is semi-settled and tribes of Gujjar and Bakkarwals, a number of silversmiths ten minutes if these two words were chopped off! ing performance saves the day to an extent. At the box office, combines the cultivation of land with pastoralism. have been working since ages who cater to the particular Shree Narayan Singh’s direction is weak. He had a bit it will require a really strong word of mouth to attract footfalls. Gujjars are the ones who move to the lower and mid- needs of the nomadic people and their traditions. flawed but interesting write-up in hand and any other capable Courtesy :http://www.bollywoodhungama.com dle mountain areas of Pir Panjal pastures in the summer (IBNS-TWF) director could have turned things around. But Shree Narayan