Cinema: The Magic Lantern!!

A runaway lured by love for the world of glamour, Veeru Devgan fled from his home to Mumbai to become a hero but he became an acclaimed action choreographer with over hundred films from ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’ to ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’ under his belt. Devgan's schlep and talent in action stunts was superb against the backdrop of a technologically-challenged environment. He was a genius in choreographing fights/stunts on the silver screen when there were no facilities available. His contribution to the cinema in a pre-VFX era is unparallel and he was always ahead of his times. Veeru Devgan, a legend of Hindi cinema, left his mark at a time when ‘pure action’ was the order of the day. He was heavily influenced by the Sikh Martial spirit and he learnt martial arts to pursue a career as a stuntman. He had the knack of bringing new techniques in action scenes and kept abreast with ever-changing technological advances in the world of action films. Action/stunt films have been addin...

The iconic R.K Studios(RKS), treasure house of Bollywood’s rare memorabilia, has gone for sale माटी के मोल . A slice of Bollywood history is lost forever and RKS’s tryst with cinematic creativity is now a part of folklore. Magic, movies and romance filled RKS is the memory keeper and mausoleum of golden era Bollywood films. It was not just Rajkapoor’s workplace but in reverential terms a “temple” underscoring the spiritual attachment that he felt towards it. R.K Studios was the kingdom of a great showman where iconic films were shot, legendary celebrations were held, a testament to the man’s great vision and love for cinema. Modelled on the great Hollywood studios, R.K Studios was the biggest and most glamorous production center in India and was once considered the ‘Mecca’ of Bollywood. Its emblem where Rajkapoor holds Nargis in one arm and a violin in another was an embodiment of romanticism and glamour. The monumental monolith R.K Studios got ignited with ‘Aag’, nurture...

Legendary Manna Dey, as the stalwart of the film music world, enthralled generations with his romantic ballads and fast-paced modern numbers. He rose in the musical horizon as a shining star, singing away an infinite variety of compositions with gay abandon. Steeped in the tradition of classical music, he was a master of a diverse range of genres, from Khayal and Thumris to popular Hindi music with a Western tilt to traditional folk songs and Vaishnav Kirtans and even Rabindrasangeet. His versatility was unparalleled as he could sing a qawwali, a raag, a rock-and-roll number all with equal ease, panache and conviction. His singing could convey the vast gamut of human emotions. His immortal rendition ‘Ae Mere Pyare Watan..’ (Kabuliwallah), still brings gooseflesh to every nationalist Indian. He often added intricately woven flourishes and deflections into his song compositions. His organized approach to singing was probably the smooth elegant transition from notation to rendition. ...