Madhuri and her men

I think that it is the case with many people when it comes to their favourite Hindi actor/actress to rank the jodis they made in order of preference. And that is exactly what I am going to do in this post. I saw most of the films Madhuri, being my favourite actress, played in. And I have, of course, my own preferences. Of course, she had many co-stars during her iconic career, but I just had to give my TOP 5.

5. Jackie Shroff 

What was great with this pairing is that Jackie looked exactly like a man should be, very manly, and although he is not especially handsome, one can easily find him really sexy. They could be sexy and sweet together.

4. Sanjay Dutt

 All those who keep saying they had an affair: out! This rumour has been proven wrong MANY times. Anyway - those two still made a great on-screen jodi and could be as well, and as you can see on this picture (from a movie that in the end was not made), hot.

Better than my poor words, here is a sweet song from my favourite Sanjay Dutt/Madhuri movie: Saajan. One of my absolute favourites.

3. Anil Kapoor

Please, don't kill me for this spot when it comes to Anil. I know they were the most iconic jodis up until DDLJ which started the SRKajol mania. But hey, he is still at the number 3 spot. I don't think I need to say much about them. Everybody can guess why their on-screen chemistry was reputed. And it has never been overrated. They created the magic of Tezaab together, they gave innocence to the gangster-movie Parinda, she was his Radha in Ram Lakhan... and through the fourteen movies they did together, their comfort level grew and grew.

My favourite song of theirs must be the magical and dream-like "Kismat se tum" (by the master A.R. Rahman) in Pukar - the last movie they were paired opposite in and the movie they had the greatest chemistry in, IMO.

2. Aamir Khan

Oooooooh, my Dil is sinking, I lost it somewhere and...Na jaane kahan dil kho gaya. Do you know? No? Errm, whatever.

Pity they only made two films together, because damn, they were a great jodi. Just sweet, powerful... And I just love young Aamir. I like him more than the current one, always showing his great business-sense and not giving a bloody kick-ass performance. (You can do it, Aamir!) I need to watch Dil again. Mein jaati hoon....I think I found the song which can tell me where I have lost my dil...

1. Shahrukh Khan

 

The King, the baadshah... Who else could rock the first place? He is not called the greatest lover for nothing. I have always preferred the jodi he makes with Kajol, but I think Madhuri always looked the best with him, they have an amazing comfort level, and the chemistry... always leaves my heart melting. Ok, they did not have space to have much chemistry in Anjaam (though they were both amazing ), unfortunately played in this bad and nauseous B-grade movie Koyla, but they were the only saving grace of a shallow movie like Dil To Pagal Hai, really looked like a married couple in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, and I could feel Chandramukhi's love for Devdas, and the latter's attraction to the golden-hearted courtesan as if I was living it... Ok, and because this is them, not one but two videos tribute to their amazing chemistry.

Aaaah their performance in the last Filmfare awards was sheer magic...

Who do you prefer Madhuri with?

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Another small and humble post for the Magic of Madhuri week hosted by Gaja Gamini on her Bollywood-ish blog. 

Rangeela

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma
Starring: Urmila Matondkar, Aamir Khan, Jackie Shroff
Released: 1995
My rating: 7/10

Mili (Urmila Matondkar) is a young woman from middle-class family but with big dreams in her eyes. Passionate about movies, she wants to make it big to the silver screen. Supported by her family and her best buddy Munna (Aamir Khan), a small-time black-marketer, she works on it and is soon spotted by one of the biggest film stars, Raj Kamal (Jackie Shroff). She is to make her debut movie opposite him, but as Mili clims the ladder to success and becomes closer to Kamal, Munna slowly realises his feelings for her...

Rangeela is one of the biggest hits of the year 1995, it also marks the music debut of A.R. Rahman in the cinema industry, who is now the achieved composer we know today. And the praise is understandable, the title-song will stay in your ears for a long time...

The plot might seem simple and is predictable, but it is heart-warming and endearing. One follows with sheer pleasure the whole story, the optimism of Mili and the bond she shares with Munna: most of their fighting-scenes are among my favourites! Points also goes to Rangeela thanks to its "filmi" atmosphere, it is always with delight to see cinematic mentions in an Indian movie, I think this is the greatest tribute one can do to their cinema. What makes Rangeela very special also is that it is centered on a heroine, in this case Mili, which is somehow unusual in Bollywood and a refreshing change, one must say.

Aamir Khan is very good as Munna, Mili's best friend, one can't help pining for him when he feels Mili is going away from him. Jackie is also good as superstar Raj Kamal, his sober acting was perfect for the character. But one reproach could be made to his character, who is not very developped: proof is that besides having lost his fiancée in a car crash, we don't get to know anything more about him. Another reproach would be that no change and difference can be seen between the Raj Kamal who used to grieve over his fiancée's death and the Raj Kamal who is in love with Mili. Jackie might not be to blame though, that is probably the script's fault.

Mili and Munna -sweet, sweet and sweet!

Mili and Raj Kamal - very filmi indeed!

But this is without doubt Urmila Matondkar who is the best here. She is incredibly natural as the vivacious Mili and greatly carries Rangeela on her shoulders. When this movie released, Urmila totally re-defined beauty criteria (and also probably introduced the infamous size-zero) but this is understandable: she possesses some kind of sensuality (and modernity for this time) without being vulgar at all.

Urmila being sexy!

In the end, Rangeela is a sweet and entertaining movie, predictable but without being boring at any places, thanks to good performances, a script mastered very well and a GREAT and catchy soundtrack!

Devdas (2002)

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali 
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Kirron Kher, Jackie Shroff
Released: 2002
My rating: 10/10

Devdas can be considered as the Indian "Romeo and Juliet", a legendary and tragic love-story of modern times in India. And when it saw the light as a short novel written in 1901 by a young and drunk Sarat Chandra Chatterje, he did not know Devdas would definite the passionate and tragic lover when it would be published, more than a decade later, in 1917 (despite its strong objections).  With Devdas started a new era, be it in Indian literature but also in Indian cinema, as a young P. C. Barua said "Devdas will make film history!"  The novel, which is set in 19th Century Bengal, was the object of many movie adaptations, already in 1927 until our time, and the story still captivates millions of people. One of the most recent adaptations is the one by Sanjay Leela Bhansali released in 2002 which had a tremendous success in India, but also abroad as it made it to Cannes and created some interest from the West towards the Hindi cinema industry. The movie was praised and created a new era for the future and success of Bollywood in Europe.

Paro and Devdas - the epidome of tragic love-story

The story is not complicated. Devdas (Shahrukh Khan) and Paro (Aishwarya Rai) are childhood sweethearts. Devdas is sent to study abroad, in London, by a displeased father. Years later, he comes back as a grown-man while Paro blossomed into a stunning and celestial beauty. All those years, she yearned for his return, lighting up a lamp which no force on Earth can extinguish. What used to be childhood affection turns to passionate love. But, due to an argument between the two families and to Paro's lower social status, the parents of Devdas refuse even the slightest idea of marriage. After an argument with his father, Devdas runs away, leaving both home and Paro, and sends the latter a letter saying no love ever were between the two. Realizing soon he did a mistake, Devdas comes back to her on the very day of her wedding, with a much older man. Heart-broken, Devdas turns to alcohol and seeks solace from a courtesan, Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit) to forget his pain, and hence starts his self-destruction... 

Devdas, my first Bollywood movie. The most beautiful cinematic moment I have ever lived. I shall never forget it. I still remember the shock and the amazement it provoked in me. From the beginning, I was hooked into a masterpiece larger than life.

This part is so sad...

Visually, Devdas is breath-taking, in every frame, every details, nothing is misplaced. With Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali proves he is not only a filmmaker but a painter giving life and motion to his pictures. Throughout the movie, there is a predominance of red/orange tones, which gives the visual atmosphere a vibrant feeling, vibrant is also the perfect word to describe Bhansali's work from the vibrant visuals, vibrant characters and vibrant story. There is an aura of greatness in every frame. In the end, the visuals serve the story, not the contrary. Not once the visual glory of Devdas makes you loose the touch with story.

The true greatness of the movie definitely lies in the story and the characters. Be it Devdas, Paro or Chandramukhi, they are all human, with their qualities and flaws; all those three characters cannot be called any less than complex characters. Devdas is a spoilt young man, arrogant and sometimes violent, but he is kind-hearted and loves Paro with all his heart. He is weak, but in the same time more human than most people around him. He will have to pay for his weakness all his life. Paro is this dignified and proud being, and as Devdas got a punishment for being weak, she will also be punished for her vanity. Then appears Chandramukhi, as the moonlight appears in the darkest of nights. She is a prostitute, and this illusion of her being a woman with no value in life disappears as soon as she takes care of Devdas, dutiful, generous and giving.

 

Shahrukh Khan is amazing as the tragic-lover Devdas, and gives us here the greatest performance of his career, I even think this is the best male performance from an actor ever. His Devdas is real. He is Devdas, in his every breath, every glance, every gesture, every word. Shahrukh brings an aura of grandeur in the beginning as a gentleman coming from London in the first half, before we can feel his suffering, in the second half of the movie, as if we are living it. Despite the character's flaws and mistakes, Shahrukh Khan makes us pine for him. Devdas is heartbreaking.

Paro - the celestial beauty

Aishwarya Rai is wonderful as the dignified and dutiful Paro. She has never been more beautiful than in Devdas. Her eyes are crystal-clear and delivers every emotions Paro feels: her love, her hopes, her braveness, her despair and her pride. There is a tremendous difference between the Paro of the beginning, and the Paro of the second half. Paro is first a young and stunning woman yearning for Devdas and dreaming of a marriage with him, but when she is wedded to a much older man than her, she lives her fate with dignity and (proud) silence. In the second half, she seems almost haughty, and  possesses the aura of a real aristocrat; everything, from her glance to her standing, is regal. Her character is admirable.

Chandramukhi - the golden-hearted courtesan

But the heart-stealer is definitely Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi. Stunning and glowing like the moonlight, she first attracts your eyes and then you give her your whole compassion as Chandramukhi soon shows herself to be a gold-hearted woman, who gives her love and does not expect it in return. She knows Devdas will only love Paro, and only Paro, but she feels happy and grateful to have been touched by God's grace. In this way, she can only remind one of Meera, the famous poetress in love with Lord Krishna, who sung and danced her whole life to praise him. Chandramukhi is then definitely Devdas's Meera, as she dedicates her whole soul to him and worships him. She is also a strong and determined woman, who despite being a courtesan, possesses her self-esteem too. The scene where she slaps Kali-babu is one of the most memorable of the whole movie. Madhuri Dixit gives her whole soul to the character, and who cannot drown in her most expressive eyes?

Kahe Chhed Mohe - a pure and marvellous dancing moment

One cannot speak about Devdas without mentionning the soundtrack and the breath-taking dance numbers. Every track is marvellous and compliments the movie marvelously. No song is misplaced, and each of them serves the story. You fall in love with Shreya Ghosal's voice as soon as Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka starts playing. Morey Piya is beautiful, powerful story-telling of the love of Radha and Krishna, so is its picturization made of a shy sensuality. Kahe Chhed Mohe is magical and fantastic, it is to me the most beautiful dancing moment ever. Definitely the magnum opus of Madhuri Dixit when it comes to dance. Classical and Indian in every form. But one of the highlights of the movie is without doubt the extraordinary Dola Re Dola which demanded great dedication from both Madhuri and Aishwarya. The result is magnificent. Every steps, choreographed by Saroj Khan, is executed flawlessly. The dance is lively, and the colourful set adds to its splendor. We feel the emotions, the love and the friendship of Paro and Chandramukhi from every smile and gesture of them. Joy is written all over their faces. This is not too much to call Dola Re Dola the most stunning and greatest dance sequence in the history of Indian cinema.

Dola Re Dola - breath-taking in every sense of the term

In the end, Devdas is and will always be (to me) the summum of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's work. It is perfect in every frame, breathes life and tragedy, actually emotions is another great word to describe this movie. It captures feelings, and humanity perfectly. Two years after watching it for the first time, the shock is still the same. I still have the very feeling of this movie touching something greater than life. In the end, Devdas is much more than a cinematic work.

The eyes of pain...

Subhash Ghai to Launch Jackie Shroff's Son Tiger in a Remake of Hero

Almost three decades after he launched Jackie Shroff with Hero, Subhash Ghai readies to launch his son Tiger in a remake of the 1980s hit.


Jackie Shroff’s son Tiger is getting ready to make his big Bollywood debut, and who better than showman Subhash Ghai- who launched his father with Hero (1983) - to do that? There is word that Mukta Arts is feverishly working to remake the Jackie Shroff-Meenakshi Seshadri blockbuster with Tiger (Shroff) stepping into his father’s role.

“It’s a bit early to talk about this, but yes, one of my scriptwriters is definitely writing the remake of Hero. Let’s see how the script develops,” Ghai said.
However, the filmmaker will only produce the film and not direct it. He says, “The film will have a young director and a young team. Woh ‘80s ki picture thi, ye 2010 ki hai. Moreover, I am busy with many ideas and stories which I want to develop.”

Explaining his reason for choosing to launch Tiger’s career, Ghai remarked, “Tiger is hero material and I can sense it. Bachpan se janta hoon usko.” Has Jackie given his consent to the project? “Of course. Jackie is family to me,” Ghai said, puzzled by the question.

Tiger’s mother Ayesha recalls a very touching moment between Ghai and her son. “When Tiger was born, Subhashji placed a gold coin in his hand and said, yeh iska pehla signing amount hai.”

It’s finally coming true.

ABOUT HERO
(Inset: poster of Hero)
Jackie Shroff played the villain Amrish Puri’s henchman who kidnaps Shammi Kapoor’s daughter Meenakshi Sheshadri, though she is misled to believe they are keeping her in safe custody on her father’s instructions. They fall in love. When she realises that he is a criminal, she is hurt but convinces him to surrender and reform himself. The film had melodious music (Main Tera Jaanu Hoon, Pyar Karne Wali Kabhi Darte Nahin, Ding Dong O Baby Sing A Song, Nindiya Se Jaagi Bahar) with both Jackie and Meenakshi becoming instant heartthrobs after the release of the film.

Jackie and Ayesha Shroff's Son Tiger to Make Movie Debut in 2012

Jai 'Tiger' Shroff is getting ready for a filmi debut. Jackie and Ayesha's 19-year-old son has already been getting lot of attention. A sport enthusiast presently training in martial arts, Tiger has already recieved several film offers. However, mom Ayesha thinks he's too young and wants to wait another two years before he debuts.

All-rounder

Describing him as an all- rounder Ayesha says, "Tiger is an outdoor guy and an extrovert. He loves his sports and has played everything from basketball to golf. At the moment, he's taken to parkour and is busy getting in his best shape. Right from his school days, he's been attracted to sports, so fitness is in his blood."

Better options

Is being an actor a natural progression for him? "Actually we had sent him to the US to try and be a professional basketball player. But he got homesick and wanted to come back. All his friends are here, and he didn't want to be away from them. Now, he wants to get into acting, but it's going to take a while before that happens. The advantage is that since the industry is like family, he will have better options and avenues than someone else."

Manager in place

Ayesha has already got a manager for her son. "We want to go the professional way and make sure he gets it right. Since we get so many inquiries for him, I have got a manager to handle his work. Today's style of working is very different from the time Jackie started off." He is also taking diction classes. She continues, "His style of speaking Hindi is very like his father, so we need to polish it a bit. Besides that I also want him to come on the sets of my under-production films so he gets a first hand account of what it's like to work in the indu
stry. It's not as hunky dory as it seems."

Jackie Shroff's Son Tiger Declined to Star in Fauji's Remake

Jackie's son Jai

Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies is presently working on a remake of his TV debut show - Fauji. The 1988 show is being revived and will be made to match today's sensibilities.

Jackie and Ayesha's son Jai Hemant Shroff, also known as Tiger was approached to play the lead role on the show. However, the actor politely declined the offer.

Fresh face, please

A source reveals, "The Fauji remake is on full swing and they are looking at fresh faces to play the young cadets. Tiger fit the bill. He's young and athletic." Also he wants to act, so he seemed like a likely candidate.
However, Tiger's parents Jackie and Ayesha felt he should wait a few years before taking the leap into acting. And that it was too soon, considering TV is a gruelling medium.

Too young

Tiger's mom Ayesha confirms, "He was approached for a Red Chillies production. But honestly, we think he's still too young. Many production houses have approached us already. In due time, when Tiger is ready, we will consider the offers."

The mommy feels that his age is a big factor, "He's just 19. As of now, he's doing weight training and martial arts. We are planning to send him to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art."

Fauji Kaun?
Fauji is a TV series about the daily life of an Indian Army regiment that aired on India's national channel Doordarshan in 1988. It was produced and directed by Colonel R K Kapur (Retd). The concept focuses on a batch of trainees at a commando school, their training and eventual induction as soldiers.