Shashwat Sachdev, music composer of recently released bollywood movie ‘ Veere di Wedding’, speaks with the reporter Shalini Saksena about getting a break in bollywood.

How did you get to work with Tony Maserati, the American record producer?

I met him at a workshop that I was a part of in Europe. I kept in touch with him even after the workshop was over. This association led to my working with him. I was invited by him to the US. Then I moved to India in 2015 and have been in Mumbai since then.

Does that mean you go for many workshops?

I come from a non-musical background, my father  is a doctor and my mother is a Philosophy lecturer. I myself studied law. So I have an academic background. But I learnt Hindustani Classical vocal for 21 years due to guru–shishya tradition. I learnt western classical piano for 11 years. Though I have been around a lot of music but haven’t got a formal training. I don’t come from a family where I could go for an international degree in music for three years. But it is nice to have a formal connect with music education therefore I had gone for a workshop in audio engineering.

Were you always interested in composing?

Yes, I was always interested in composing even though I learnt vocals. My parents and guru realised early that I needed to learn piano when I was in Class VII so that I could get the right guidance when it came to writing music and that got me started on my compositional career.

Were there any challenge that came in composing for Veere Di Wedding?

Actually, the co-producer of the film Rhea Kapoor and I were responsible for the music in the film. We connected instantly when I met her three years back. I played her my music which was very desi when it came to the kind of music I had composed. But the arrangement was very contemporary. She really liked this. This is basic premise of the music in Veere… For example, there is a bhagara song. Both of us wanted to give it a different treatment so that it had a folk element but was contemporary enough for the young generation to identify with and enjoy.

How did you get your break in Bollywood?

When I had moved to the US, it was for a short period but ended up staying for much longer. But since my music had lot of Indian element to it so people told me that I should move to India. So I moved here— it was only supposed to be for a few months. But then I met Rhea. She is the reason why I stayed on. While working on Veere… I got Phillauri. While my first movie is Veere…, Phillauri released earlier.

What are the challenges that you face as a composer?

The only challenge is in my head — on how to make a better melody than yesterday. Making better music than yesterday and better myself. If I had given a certain kind of music in Phillauri, then how to be different in Veere… To not be repetitive is my aim.

A lot of collaboration is being done with international musicians. What has changed?

Indian musicians have always worked with international artists. Also, we now have the technology and platforms due to the Internet to find and collaborate with an artist internationally. We have the resources that makes it easier to reach out. International artists also want to work with Indian artists.

Did your parents have a problem with you pursuing a musical career?

Actually, my father supported me wholly. People say that they were given an opportunity and that is how they got a break in the industry. For me, what I got from my parents is so much bigger than the opportunity. I was consistently inspired and motivated by my parents. They gave me all the resources that I needed to where I am today. They were extremely encouraging including my sister, who is an architect, and an important part of my audience.

Are you working on some other project?

Like I was simultaneously working on Veere… while doing Phillauri, I have been working on other projects while doing Veere… I am also working with international artistes.

Writer: Shalini Saksena

Courtesy: The Pioneer

As reported, film actor Taapsee Pannu, has a busy year ahead as she will be seen in seven films in 2018-19 ranging from Hindi to Telugu cinema.  Taapsee is on of the most successful actresses who is dabbling both in Bollywood and South language films with much ease and accolades together.

With five releases in 2017, each different from the other, from critical to commercial success, she paved a niche for herself. She has as many as four films releasing this year and three films in the pipeline. She will first be seen in Soorma, the Sandeep Singh biopic with Diljit Dosanjh followed by Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk and will also be seen in Anurag Kashyap’s  Manmarziyaan which is due for a release in September. She has a Telugu film in her kitty titled Neevevaroo which releases in the second half of the year.

‘We as a collective society can only implement change once we initiate discussion, and the conclave on Menstrual Hygiene Day is a fitting platform for us to truly empower a nation of women. Together we can ensure that every female has the right to manage her period safely and with dignity’

— Akshay Kumar

Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar is locked to play the lead in Viu’s forthcoming web series. While the launch date is not yet fixed the cast has been finalised. Pilgaonkar will be part of the thriller. She quipped, “I have always enjoyed watching thrillers  and this is my first time exploring the genre as an actor. I loved the story of this series and decided to be on board instantly. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s an incredibly fascinating character.”

Jordan wanted Get Out to be universal

Actor-director-writer Jordan Peele says he wanted to be “racially specific and universal” with his film Get Out. The horror film centred on an interracial relationship between a black American man and his white partner, was a satire on racism and was critically lauded. He became the first African-American screenwriter to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for it. “The curiosity of ‘guess who is coming to dinner’ really connected. Besides having amazing actors, a script and execution, it’s a story about race. But is still relatable. Everyone shares the fear of meeting your in-laws, whether you are or not from a different race than them, you are going to fear that they might not accept you in that situation. So I had a eureka moment in writing the script that’s the mould I should make this movie in,for it to be both racially specific and universal,” said Peele.

Writer: Pioneer

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Keeping it real and simple,  Pulkit Samrat believes that its best to let success go to the head and never let failure reach the heart.

Actor Pulkit Samrat is honest to himself. Which is why despite a string of failures and somewhat pyrrhic successes of the Fukrey franchise, he keeps going. “Success doesn’t go to my head and failure never reaches my heart. I just want to keep doing my best in each and every project.” Right now he is hopeful about Fukrey 3. “Filmmakers are working on the content. Currently I am shooting for two other films and waiting for the respective announcements to be made by the producers”, he tells us during a brand launch.

Pulkit does not endorse a brand for promotions but actually believes in it with his heart. He uses a lot of khaki during summers with kurtis, sherwanis, blazers, jackets, shirts and trousers as the fabric is extremely comfortable and cool. Calling khaki an integral part of men’s wardrobes, he says, “The smart casual collection can be worn at work and while travelling. Khaki goes with every color and carries an edge which makes an individual look sharp and focussed. Comfort, ease and lightness are the USP. Khaki is one of the few alluring materials that can be worn for a festive occasion or during some quality time with friends. It goes well with pre and post wedding celebrations.”

The actor also had a few summer tips: “Hydrate yourself and eat a lot of seasonal fruits like watermelons, melons and berries.”

Writer: Team Viva

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Author Ramiya Palisetty interviewed the actor, Gaurav Sareen. According to his role in his upcoming show “Krishna Chali London” on Star Plus, he is living his dream to the fullest. He will be looking for his real soulmate in the serial in the lanes of Kanpur.

At 23, he is focussed on the eye of the fish just like Arjuna. With goal-oriented approach, he is rarely distracted and never strays from the path, he has chosen. Though, he has struggled for the past four years, he doesn’t reflect over the period of rejections and failures. For him, it was a time when he was building himself. In a city that is full of grey characters, he is an individual who is black or white. The philosophy that has carried him so far is the less people you know, the less problems you would have in life. Gaurav Sareen is the new face of Star Plus show, Krishna Chali London. He envisioned a path for himself, the day he landed in Mumbai. Beginning his career with advertisements like Set Wet and Honda, he has ventured into television dramas.

Set against the backdrop of Kanpur, the show Krishna Chali London delves into the life of Radhe Lal Shukla portrayed by Sareen who is seen as a hopeless romantic. His sole purpose in life is to find his bride and shower her with unconditional love. In a time when youngsters are focussed on building careers and achieving success, he wants to go on a bike ride with his wife and write shayari for her.

He caught the acting bug as a child when he first caught a glimpse of Hrithik Roshan. He was so passionate about becoming Hrithik that when he was in kindergarten, his mother came to drop him to school. One day, he told her with complete frankness that she should groom herself and set her hair well otherwise people would comment, “look at Hrithik Roshan’s mother, she is not even dressed properly.”In his mind, he was already an actor. It is one of those few memories that the mother and son cherish to this day.

During his childhood, he never watched any television soaps since he was always eager to go out and play with his friends. “I was in school at the time when school bags weighed more than the children. Living in a joint family in Amritsar, my whole family including the kids were glued to the television but I had eyes only for the playground. While the theme song of Kasautii Zindagii Kay played in the background, I used to change my uniform to get ready for the play hour.”

His love for acting and his dedication towards achieving his goals has always been his strength but acting wasn’t always his priority. His father wanted him to become an IPS officer and till class 12th, even he was inclined towards civil services. But then acting happened and his father was proud  and excited, mentioning his name to their relatives and friends. But as usual, the mentality of our society is to put everyone down. “Everybody used to tell my father that I won’t become a hero. Rather, I would become a womaniser who would get into the habit of drinking and doing drugs after which I would come home empty handed.”

He has portrayed the character of Donal Bisht’s brother in Ek Deewana Tha before he landed the lead role in the show, Krishna Chali London. With no professional background, he came to Mumbai, unaware of how the industry works. “In the beginning, I was told to build a port-folio, socialise with people to develop contacts which might fetch me good opportunities.”

After 2500 auditions, Sareen finally achieved what he had dreamt of, all his life but it wasn’t served to him on a silver platter. “There were days when I used to have four auditions, standing under the scorching sun for hours with no time to even eat. Rejection has been a part of my journey and they have taught me valuable life lessons. Failures and rejections are like questions and answers in my life. I believe, if you can face rejection and failure in life, you can do anything.”

There were a few challenges but the actor wanted to prove his mettle and hence he was able to get through each and every problem. “I had 40 days to learn the language of Kanpur. During those days, I rarely talked to my parents or any of my friends. I concentrated solely on personifying the character.”

While essaying the character of Radhe, the most difficult aspect was to get a grip over the language. The actor watched a lot of movies and read a lot of books to get the enunciation right. “I used to go out at night to talk to auto-rickshaw drivers to strengthen my language. I haven’t spoken Hindi or English at all during this period.”

There are a few similarities between Radhe and Gaurav which is estimated to be about 40 per cent according to the actor. “I am usually cast for innocent characters by various production houses and I have always received positive feedback about my character. I do believe that I can play bad boy character as well if I work hard at it.”

The show is bringing forth a new concept where the hero is unlike any of the heroes that have dominated the small screen for quite a long time. He is simple and honest with no qualms about living on his father’s inheritance. The roles have been reversed where the actor thinks only about marriage while the actress is driven by ambition to achieve her dreams professionally. “I hope the audience likes the new perspective because I feel what you see is what you learn and that is how the television works.”

The promos have been receiving a lot of accolades since it’s release. “Relatives and strangers have praised my work and I have got a number of messages in the past five days expressing the same. I am unable to reply to each one of them but they are long messages of appreciation.”

In the show, he is searching for a beautiful woman who would be his companion for life. As an individual, his definition of beauty is quite different. “I don’t think beauty lies in appearances. If you are beautiful on the inside, it is reflected in your eyes. For me, personality is beautiful, not the face or the body”.

With each step, the actor is climbing the ladder of success slowly and steadily. “I am very particular about my goals. If I am thirsty for water, I will only drink water even if there are a range of options like flavoured water, juices or carbonated drinks on the table.”

Being an actor requires dedication and a strong will power. It isn’t an easy path and many actors return home with broken dreams and shattered souls. “If you want to achieve anything in life, you need to manage time. It is the most precious skill one can learn in today’s generation. If youknow the various ways to tackle time, everything will be easy.”

He needs eight hours of sleep which is becoming impossible since the shooting began. As he stays alone, he has day-to-day chores as well. “It is tough but I hope once I get on the right track, everything else will fall into its rightful place.”

Writer: Ramya Palisetty

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Karen Gillan who plays Nebula in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War said that the movie will be a conclusion of an unbelievable fight where every character will face challenges. The best part is that they have never faced such challenges before.

The last time we saw Nebula, she was trying to stop her father Thanos from completing the Infinity gauntlet in Guardians of the Galaxy. We still have no idea if she got revenge against her father but she is returning to the big screen with Avengers: Infinity War. Actress Karen Gillan portrays the role of a bald, blue-skinned and surly space warrior. She feels that directors Anthony and Joseph Russo are miracle workers who provide a smooth transition for the actors to get into their respective characters. For Gillan, Mantis is one superhero whose power she would borrow for the world to be a better place.

Have you watched any Bollywood movies?

I have and I think they look spectacular and colourful with all the dancing. I love Indian cuisine a bit too much and it is pretty popular in the UK.

If you have to form your own list of Avengers but not from the original five, who would you pick?

Nebula, of course, and Mantis because she has emphatic powers which are very crucial for helping with solving things. Spiderman and Black Panther as they will be great and maybe Valkyrie from Thor since she’s cool.

Could you describe the movie in three words?

Epic ultimate war.

What can fans expect from this movie?

If you are a Marvel fan who has been following the movies for the last ten years, it’s all been leading to this moment. A culmination of this incredible fight of their lives —  every single character will never face a greater challenge than the one they are going to face in this movie. It’s going to be epic and nobody is safe, so there are going to be a lot of unexpected twists.

Let’s go back to the time when you were the first cast for this movie and walk us through your emotional experience when you learnt that you will be playing this role in one of the biggest movie franchises…

It completely blew my mind that I even had an audition for a new Marvel movie.  I didn’t know the movie Guardians of the Galaxy was coming as it is not one of the well-known films. All the characters kind of set the tone and I was always excited to join the Marvel universe because the movies are brilliant and popular, I just couldn’t believe it.

At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy, we see that Nebula is heading off to take on Thanos by herself. What can you tell us about the thoughts running in her head when she is coming down to Infinity Wars?

In the last Guardians of the Galaxy movie, we learnt a lot about her backstory, her upbringing with her father and how terrible it was since he sort of abused her.  She has a very clear mission to hunt Thane and kill him. That definitely comes into play in this film as she shares that agenda with everybody else in the movie but she has her own personal motivations and we are going to learn more about them.

What do you like the most about your character?

I am over obsessed with her. I am her lawyer and I am here to explain to every individual why she does some of the things and that she is not a bad girl. I believe I love playing this character who on one hand is a massive sadist but on the other hand is a broken victim of an abusive relationship with her father.

Considering that you had to spend quite a lot of time in the make-up room, how does it feel when you are finally on set? Can you describe the experience?

It feels like we are finally here where I get to do my part of the job. That’s when I forget all about  the make-up on my face and I get to be an actor. It is the only reason why I am into this profession. Yes, it’s a big ordeal in the morning but it helps me get into the character completely and it’s part of my ritual now.

India loves superheroes. Do you have a message for the fans in India?

Hello India, thank you so much for loving super hero movies. Watch this one because it’s going to be one of the best that you have ever seen.

We have a quick rapid-fire round and you have three seconds to answer each question. Who has the coolest suit between Black Panther and Ironman?

Black Panther.

Who has the coolest suit between Spiderman and Antman?

Spiderman.

Who has the better beard, Ironman or Doctor Strange?

Ironman.

Your weapon of choice between Captain America’s shield or Thor’s Mjolnir?

I’m going to say Thor’s Mjolnir.

(Movies Now got exclusive access to the cast of Avengers: Infinity War who opened up about their experience while shooting the film)

Writer: Karen Gillan

Courtesy: The Pioneer

The reporter Kritika Dua says, Abhay deol is no more interesting in signing formula films and want to engage himself in ethical advertising. He will make sure that women characters will be empowered in his films.

The non-conformist Abhay Deol has created a niche for himself in the film fraternity by making certain choices and opting for unconventional projects. Known as someone who never shies away from speaking his mind, his films have been quite a quirky mix, his latest Nanu Ki Jaanu being a horror comedy. But only the “thinking” Deol can be blasé about it and even justify the legitimacy of the oddball theme. “I do the kind of films I believe in and those which go away from formula. These films are written very rarely and their stories need to be told. If I had gone down the formula road, you would have seen a lot more work from me. But  because of the choices I have made, it can go only as fast as people producing different content,” he told us.

Nanu Ki Jaanu revolves around a Delhi land mafia agent (essayed by Abhay Deol) who tries to deal with the arrival of a cleanliness-freak ghost (essayed by Patralekha Paul) in his apartment. Directed by Faraz Haider, the film also features Rajesh Sharma and Manu Rishi Chadha. Abhay said that he will be seen as  the perfect Dilli ka launda, a return to his Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! days. “My Hindi has a touch of Punjabi in it which proved to be an advantage because of my origins. But the twist is that though Naanu has a good background, he is still a criminal. The dichotomy dictates the person’s body language, the way of talking and you work among these things to get it right. Manu Rishi is good to train with, he is not just a fabulous writer and actor but he’s a great teacher in many ways. We (me and Manu) have done workshops before for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and we brushed up on that same thing this time.”

Of late, Abhay is known for his stance on issues like his recent slam of Bollywood endorsements for fairness products. He also steers clear of endorsing alcohol, cigarettes or anything else that spreads a wrong message in the society. Said he, “I don’t have any problem with endorsing an alcohol brand which  invests in a responsible drinking campaign. You will never see me in an advertisement promoting cigarette-smoking and fairness creams. I will not endorse soft drinks. My stand on fairness creams through a Facebook post was an outburst. Now I feel that if an outburst or a confrontation doesn’t give you a result, then you have to find a new track.  A lot of times when a celebrity picks up an issue, the issue is forgotten and the star becomes the issue. Sometimes their words are misinterpreted and taken out of context. So, if you genuinely want to make a change, you should do it behind the scenes.” Which is why he has slipped into the active citizen mode.

He doesn’t want to be judged the wrong way. “There are people out there who do things for publicity and we all know that. I hate publicity and don’t put myself in the papers.”

All the women characters in his films are empowered. When he did Dev D, Chanda was shown as weak as Dev, which is why they connected but Paro was not weak. She loved Dev but she would not take bullshit from him. Abhay tries to do such movies with a subliminal message at times but that is not his primary objective. “If you watch a movie with strong female characters, you will walk out feeling a certain way. I focus on this aspect, hoping it will   raise the consciousness of people a little bit or have them appreciate things which are under-appreciated.”

On sexism in Bollywood, he said, “Sexism exists not only in our industry but also around the world. The position of women is below men. Scandinavian countries have taken huge strides in gender equality, so maybe we can start looking at other countries who have tackled this issue and had success with it. As far as sexism in our industry is concerned, we are not isolated from our culture. And the people inhabiting this industry come from the same culture. So it’s not something that will go immediately. Neither has feudalism or chauvinism been created by the industry but is being carried forward by them. What can be done is to stop feeding the beast. The more substantial roles women get, the more they will not be seen as objects but as individuals who work, think, are intelligent and dynamic. More likely people’s attitude will change and that will come back into the industry to stop sexism.”

Writer: Kritika Dua

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Golden discs i.e. vinyl records, powered by Nostalgia are now coming back but there is no doubt that it will remain a subculture.

One would have hardly expected nostalgia to be a tangible demand in a digital world where music is streaming in from clouds and pods. But surprisingly, vinyl records are making a comeback, with surging sales reported over the last year-and-a-half. Partly because surround sound has made music as good as a tactile entity. The other part is about nostalgia, the need to have a physical format and collectible value. Can you imagine Boney M, Abba or The Beatles just as a streaming blip with an icon or the record covers with iconic photographs? Call it technology de-addiction or saturation but vinyl is back as is the turntable.

After World War II, LP ruled the world but with the introduction of compact discs, it became obsolete. Of course, there were a few audiophiles who wouldn’t let go of it and they became collectors of vinyl records. The sound was inimitable — something which the CDs tried hard to replicate and failed. So now vinyl records have made a comeback with technology-aided sound clarity. So much so that topline contemporary musicians like Ed Sheeran are all available on vinyl records. Some artistes are just cutting a solo song disc.

The spurt in demand is linked to the passing away of some music world giants —  the sales of their vinyl records skyrocketed as people bought these as mementos. For instance, after David Bowie’s death he became the bestselling vinyl artist of 2016, with five of his albums featuring in the top 30 after his death.

Vinyl consists of an analog, which means there is a continuous signal. Aficionados often attribute a warmth to pure analog sound which is why vinyl records are gaining momentum. The experience is akin to being in a bookstore. Though Kindle is flourishing in the market, the generation does not know what it feels like to go to a bookstore, hold a book in your hand, feel each page and take a whiff of the old musty smell found in libraries. It is something only a book lover can describe.

Sales of vinyl records in particular is seeing an increase because of its vintage quality and a sense of private ownership that a collector feels. It isn’t the same experience listening to Gaana, Saavn or Spotify.

Shridhar Subramaniam, president, India and Middle East, Sony Music, who was the brains behind the concept of doing a recent vinyl pop-up, says, “The sheer simplicity of playing a vinyl and enjoying the rich, warm sounds that follow make the music listening experience personal and extraordinary. It is the only physical format of music that has consistently seen a rise in demand and we decided to offer audiophiles an opportunity to start or add to their collection this International Record Store Day. We have over 2,500 titles, some of them are being released almost after 30 years. We also have exclusive box sets and record store day releases.”

Vinyl stores can be a community experience too where you can walk into a store  and meet individuals from all walks of life, digging through crates trying to find something new, old or at times, rare. Says Subramaniam, “Nowadays there is no ownership of music, there is nothing to touch, feel and enjoy. The entire act of putting the vinyl on a turntable, placing a needle on it, is like an immersive experience which people don’t have now and crave for the same.”

In fact, when one does a vinyl pop-up, there are a lot of collectors who come up with their treasure trove which is a peek into music history itself. And these are being organised by other companies as well. Sony Music, for instance, does a “bring your vinyl session” where you come up with the vinyls that your grandfather and father owned. This establishes a sense of antiquity among  young adults. With the availability of turntables that are as cheap as Rs 8,000, anyone can buy a turntable but the challenge arises after the purchase. Once you start buying vinyl records, you need to learn the method of maintaining them through time.

In Delhi, one can find vinyl at places like Radio and Gramophone house that was established in 1951 by a Jain  family. Though the store mainly deals in modern music equipments, there is a small dedicated section to records with modern day turntables on display. The Shah Music Centre in Chandni Chowk is run by third generation  of the family. Customers from across the country come looking for records and players.

In fact, this revival is not really “news”, according to the  Consumergateway.org. The website elaborates that the sales of records nearly died out in 2006. Yet soon after they have started climbing again — 2016 was the 10th consecutive year of growth in the US and the eighth consecutive year in the UK, mostly at a double-digit rate of growth. The renewed rise of records is catching attention because it happens to be the only format whose sales are increasing while other formats (CDs and even downloads of digital albums) are in decline.

In a development that has attracted attention to this phenomenon more recently, the research says, in early December of 2016 weekly sales of records (£2.4m) for the first time surpassed revenue from digital downloads (£2.1m) in the UK. In the same period of 2015, sales of records reached £1.2m compared with revenue from digital downloads that was as high as £4.4m (The Guardian, December 6, 2016). Digital downloads are not losing indeed so much to vinyl records but primarily to streaming services — downloading or streaming digital content are closer substitutes, both more distinct from vinyl.

During 2016 unit sales of vinyl albums in the UK have risen by 52 per cent to a volume of 3.2 million LP records, a record by itself. CDs remain the dominant format for albums: Over 47 million units were sold in 2016, but that was 12 per cent lower than a year earlier.

In the US, the year 2016 overall was relatively poor in terms of growth rate (1.8 per cent), nearly stagnant considering that since 2009 unit sales increased annually at rates between 20 per cent  and 40 per cent, says the website. The sales volume of vinyl album records has risen from a bottom level of about one million units in 2005-2006 to a level of 17 million units in 2015-2016, rising without a break throughout this period. (Source: Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA)

Writer: Team Viva

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Traveling to Varanasi, Ram Kumar, an exquisite artist, made this magical city his inspiration.

Throughout his long, prolific life, Ram Kumar has been one of India’s most widely celebrated artists. Born in Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh, India, he studied at the Sarada Ukil School of Art in New Delhi. In 1950, he left India for Paris and studied painting at the ateliers of Andre Lhote and Fernand Leger. His early years as a painter dealt with the human condition. So one encountered figures with vacant faces engulfed in urban surroundings where they probably did not belong. He returned to India soon thereafter, ripe with Modernist influences, particularly the stylings of Amedeo Modigliani. He was deeply disillusioned upon returning to India and for most of his subsequent career, his work was decidedly abstract which often featured subtly shifting, jagged patchworks of monochromatic lines, blocks and plains.

In 1969, he travelled to the United States and Mexico on a Rockefeller Scholarship, and from the 1970s, much of his work was based upon his personal recollections of experiences and memories of travels to remote, mountainous, ancient, spiritual centres in Northern India, Machu Picchu or the mountains and Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh.

The poet, critic and theorist Ranjit Hoskote said, “[Kumar] demonstrates that a painter can enact the innermost dramas of his culture while maintaining the individuality, even idiosyncrasy of his performance.”

His greatest works were his Benares landscapes which have become blue chip art in the world of international auctions. Kumar was a writer and thinker too and his books include The Face and Other Stories, Europe ke Sketch, The Sea and Other Stories, Ram Kumar, Shilalekh Tatha Anya Kahaniyan. He had close friendships with MF Husain, VS Gaitonde, Tyeb Mehta and Krishen Khanna. He had long associations with the Progressives and often exhibited with them.

It’s no secret that artists Ram Kumar and VS Gaitonde were close friends. But Kumar preferred to collect Gaitonde’s artworks. One such work owned by Kumar was an untitled oil canvas painting of Gaitonde. The painting which had a pride of place in his home, fetched the highest price at the recent South Asian modern contemporary art auction put up by Christie’s in London.

The 1975 work fetched $2,014,635 (33 per cent above estimate). Interestingly, Kumar bought this artwork from Gaitonde at a Delhi exhibition in mid 1970s. Kumar was keen on buying another painting. However, Tom Keehn, a common friend and Rockefeller Fund’s then India representative, requested Kumar to pick something else because he wanted Kumar’s first choice.

Kumar spent much of the latter part of his life in search for transcendence and awakening. “When one is young and beginning, one’s work is dominated by content, by ideas,” he said, “but as one grows older, one turns to the language of painting itself. I have grown detached. I want to find the same peace that the mystics found.”

In his lifetime, Kumar’s work has been displayed in more than 35 solo exhibitions in India with retrospectives in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. He has also participated in group shows in Geneva, Paris, and others and at the biennales of São Paulo, Tokyo and Venice as well as the Royal Academy of Arts in London and the Arts Council of Great Britain. In 1993, a large retrospective of his work was held at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. Despite being associated with the Indian modernist scene, the Progressive Artists Group as well as the Delhi Shilpa Chakra, he never easily fit into a simplistic modernist narrative constantly seeking to rediscover elemental origins within the lingua franca of the landscape.  He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 1979, one of India’s highest civilian awards. He passed away on Saturday, in New Delhi. Kumar’s death was confirmed by an email statement from city-based Vadehra art gallery, which had a solo show of the artist — Ram Kumar: A journey within in 1996. “It is with a heavy heart that we bid a final farewell to one of the greats of Indian art and a dear friend, Ram Kumar. The gallery went on to host 22 solo exhibitions by Ram Kumar over the years. Arun Vadehra recalls how Kumar’s entire life, like his art was a “sadhana.” He said, “It was an effort where the result was often forgotten or the result was not what mattered, it was the effort that did.”

Writer: Team Viva

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Producer Karan Johar is ready to launch two new faces in Bollywood with his upcoming movie Student Of The Year 2, the second part of his directed movie of year 2012 – ‘Student of the Year’.

Young star Tiger Shroff plays the male lead in the new film, Student Of The Year 2 and it is being directed by Punit Malhotra. The film went on the floors on April 9 and its shooting is underway. It is produced by Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar and Apoorva Mehta under the film production banner of Dharma Productions.

The cast was announced via the social media on Wednesday. Karan, who is presenting the film under his home banner Dharma Productions, individually introduced the three main leads.

After introducing the “leader of the brat pack” Tiger, he introduced the girls who are joining the “new class.” He introduced Tara with a poster in which she is seen wearing a pair of denim shorts and a matching jacket.The newcomer is excited to begin a new innings.

“And suddenly you know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings! Firsts are always special, especially when you’re blessed enough to be a part of the Dharma family. My journey begins… Student Of The Year 2,” Tara posted on her Instagram page.

Tiger also extended her a warm welcome by saying, “I’m sure you are as excited as I am. See you in class!”

Moments later, the official Twitter page of Dharma Productions announced Ananya, daughter of actor Chunky Panday, as the second lead for the film.

“And finally! Presenting Ananya — joining class of 2018 at Saint Teresa. Welcome to the movies! SOTY 2,” read a caption to a poster featuring Ananya in a red sporty crop top.

There has been a dramatic rise in the Instagram following of Ananya Panday ever since she was announced as one of the female leads of Student Of The Year 2. The newbie had 1901 people following her on the photo and video-sharing website when the announcement was made. Within four hours, she is now being followed by over 70,000 followers. Within a matter of hours, Ananya has gained a staggering 68,000 followers.

With Student Of The Year, Karan had introduced Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra, who have cemented their space in the film industry year after year with a slew of diverse projects.

Writer: Team Viva

Courtesy: The Pioneer

Rakul Preet Singh is an Indian film actress and model who predominantly works in the Telugu film industry. She has also appeared in a few Tamil, Hindi and Kannada movies. Currently, she is appointed as the brand ambassador for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme by Telangana State Government.

She started career as a model while in college, during which she also made her acting debut in the Kannada film Gilli (2009). In 2011 she participated in the Femina Miss India pageant in which she was placed fifth and won five pageant titles including People’s Choice Miss Indiatimes, Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face, Femina Miss Talented, Femina Miss Beautiful Smile and Femina Miss Beautiful Eyes.

She subsequently opted to become a full-time actress, making her Telugu debut in Keratam the same year and her Tamil debut in Thadaiyara Thaakka, the following year. In 2014 she also made her Bollywood debut in Yaariyan in which her performance was better received. She was part of the commercially successful films like Venkatadri Express (2013), Current Theega (2014), Loukyam (2014), Kick 2(2015), Bruce Lee - The Fighter (2015), Nannaku Prematho (2016), Sarrainodu (2016), Dhruva (2016), Rarandoi Veduka Chudham (2017) and Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017) and established herself as one of the leading actresses in Telugu Cinema.

Nithya Ramesh met heartthrob Rakul Preet Singh to discuss her work and plans including the new upcoming projects.

To be an established actor you need to be able to measure your success and build on this. How do you evaluate success within your roles?

There is a common saying that success means different things to different people at different levels and I am one person who doesn’t really evaluate success. I’m an actor infact that is not even something that I don’t let it seek. For me it’s a 9 to 5 job like anybody else, sometimes I don’t finish my work so I work until night. My profession is like any other job and I don’t really sit and evaluate as to what all have I achieved because I believe success shouldn’t get to your head. Of course, I’m aware of what I am doing and what I want to do next and I don’t evaluate the past and see if I had a successful film or a blockbuster film that how I am. I always think of what next because past is done and my way of looking at things is practical and you won’t grow if you start living in the past.

What have you learnt from previous roles and your past experience that would be of benefit to you in this role?

Learning is a very subconscious process, it is not a certain project that will teach you everything as you grow each day. I have been in the industry for such long and got exposed to different level of people and had let myself grow. Your personality is carved out with that and new learning happens subconsciously when you are always open to learning, which I feel I am. I’m very adaptable and I always seem that I have never achieved anything big be-cause the day that you realise or the day that you think you have achieved everything that’s when the plane is going to crash. Personally, I’m a much more mature person, I am able to handle other departments of my life as well much better because I am working and multitasking. So, it’s a very weird process of growth.

What role would you love to play as your dream role?

I as an actress don’t want to be pigeon-holed into a particular role, but you have to start somewhere. It is important to know your strengths and be willing to take on new challenging roles. I have a clear sense of who I am and what am I good at. I prefer to act in movies like ‘Saala Khadoos’ or a sports Biopic like ‘Mary Kom’.

You always look so great how do you stay in shape...what’s your secret, hardwork or genetic?

Fitness is something that many people think that going to the gym is a burden and its not that way to me. I own three gyms and I also like to stay fit all the time. The secret is my lifestyle and me working out.

Lifestyle because I’m in a show biz and getting paid to look a certain way. I don’t believe in being disproportionate and wanting to do glamorous role as a heroine but as an actress it really doesn’t matter. Recently I have lost more weight because I’m doing a film here in Bollywood which needed me to be a certain way and down South it didn’t need me to be that way so I always maintain a certain level of what is expected out of me while I’m working for Tamil or Telugu films.

Work out for me is like a stress buster. I work out when I’m happy, sad and work out even more when I’m angry [Laughs]. Working out is like a rejuvenation for each cell of my body breathing. I make sure to work out 1 hour a day and 5 times a week and If I don’t get to work out for two days simultaneously then I get very moody and I just don’t feel happy. I feel my happy hormones don’t release. Last but not the least, I follow eating healthy and eating clean. I stay away from sweets and fried food.

What drew you to make the transition from South Film Industry to Bollywood?

For me, it is really not a transition... it’s an expansion of my creativity, I mean all I want to do is to grow in life and I’m just challenging myself more than ever, so I don’t really see this as a transition. I will continue doing films as long as I get good roles and love my role irrespective of regional films or Bollywood films.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding your upcoming role in ‘Aiyaary’. What drew you to the project?

It is Neeraj Pandey’s Film. Every-body wants to work with him. He is a great film-maker and his films have a certain credential. When I first got to hear about the movie, he asked me to think about it and let him know and I immediately said there was nothing to think about as I wanted to work with him and Siddharth Malhotra and ‘Aiyaary’ being an army film I had no second though to work for this project. So that is how it happened and it was a wonderful journey.

Do you feel there is a lot of pressure on you to portray a certain body image and appearance? How do you handle that?

I don’t believe in the word pressure as I think pressure is something that you build on yourself when you are competitive with others and my competition is always myself. Of course, I want to do well but that doesn’t mean that I will step down on other people. I don’t get pressurised if I am the way I am, I give my 100% to people who want it for a certain film. Recently I read through this line which says “few people are taking stress management techniques to handle and relieve stress” which means they are already preparing themselves for stress which they are expecting to happen to them and their mind to manage. Money, work or business needs to be managed but not stress. I believe to adapt and enjoy the process of what I am working and I am one of those people who is aware of my likes and dislikes at work, I’m lucky that I’m doing it the right way and I’m happy and proud I am doing it well so I don’t find any reason to be pressurised. Why should I add stress to something that I should enjoy, blossom and cherish.

How has stardom changed you?

Stardom has changed me as a matured person but not in the conventional way most people believe. I am the same person that I was five years ago and will always be the same no matter how big I grow. However, stardom hasn’t changed me it has changed my circumstances.

You were paired up with stars like Sidharth Malhotra, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu. How was your experience working with them?

It was an amazing experience working with each one of them as they are humble and supportive during shoots. Sidharth Malhotra is from Delhi, so we both keep talking about Delhi. He speaks his heart and is always fun to be with.

Allu Arjun is very hardworking and a nice person too, he is one actor who always brings a change with whatever film he is doing. Ram Charan is one of my favourite co-stars with great dedication and patience. Mahesh Babu is the most grounded and dedicated at work with no attitude or arrogance in spite of being a super star.

Tell us about your experience working with director Neeraj Pandey?

It was an outstanding experience working with Neeraj sir as he is the nicest and most keen. He knows who he is so he does everything he can to make you feel comfortable. He is a pleasure to work with and one of the best at his work and style. He makes sure to get the best out of you so he needs you to be relaxed and comfortable. He helps you find your best with many actors throughout the film and you do know you are in safe hands, which really helped me concentrate on doing my best at what

I need to do while he makes you feel at ease and guides you through.

What are your upcoming releases?

I have ‘Aiyaary’ releasing this month. I’m working for another Bollywood film apposite Ajay Devgan and I play a very interesting role which is set to release in October.

Then I have got two films in Tamil, one opposite Suriya, directed by Selvaraghavan and one with Karthi which is a love story. There are talks for two films in Telugu which I will be announcing soon.

(Nithya Ramesh: Bureau Chief – Entertainment & Fashion, Opinion Express)

A fine actor who bridges the north-south divide

R.Madhavan, popularly known as Maddy is riding a wave being the only actor in India who leads charmed life as a star in Bollywood and Kollywood. He has acted in more than 50 movies and also won few Filmfare awards. He is not only an actor but has worked as a film producer, as a writer for few of his films, hosted television programmes and has been a prominent celebrity endorser for multiple brands. He is one of the few actors in India who garners pan-Indian appeal, with his success in establishing himself in the North and the South Indian film industries. He is noted for his contributing activities and promotes various causes such as environment, health and education. Interestingly, last year, Madhavan’s critically acclaimed movie, Irudhi Suttru (Tamil remake of Saala Khadoos) was screened at the Prestigious International film festival and met with a fabulous response from global people and the media.

Nithya Ramesh Model, Actor and film critic interacted with R.Madhavan for opinion express Magazine.

How are you enjoying your recent success of Kollywood release vikram vedha?

I’m really happy with the movie vikram vedha making a big hit at the box office in India as well as overseas. It is nice to know that the audiences are adapting the new and different genres of movies that are made these days which is taking our Indian cinemas to the next level.

What is the most extreme change to your personality, hair, body weight, etc that you have done to prepare for a role?

Saala khadoos was an immense transformation for me. It was tough and it took a year for me to work and get right for the character to look like a retired boxer. I had to grow my moustache and hair. It was well worthy effort that I had put in.

How do you choose a script?

I listen to hundreds of scripts, but it has to excite me and at the same time my role should fit within my parameters. I look for scripts that are intelligent, age appropriate and which would fit in the right experience that the audiences are looking for.

Is it true that you have to change yourself in order to be accepted into the entertainment business?

No not at all. One has to be unique to be accepted. First you need to understand that like everybody else you are unique too in some or the other way, you should always be inspirational and have the ability and strength to portray the role assigned to you. That is when you will be accept- ed by the audience. If you have qualities that the common man wants to have after seeing you then you don’t have to change yourself.

If you were offered two movies simultaneously, one of which is a commercial movie with a reputed director and will make a huge gross worldwide whereas second one is a truly artistic film which requires great method acting and which may not be a box office hit, but will earn huge accolades for you and your entire team in a long run … what would you choose?

The commercial movie as I am strong believer of Box- office hit.

How do you prepare yourself so that you’ll bring the right amount of realism and emotion to a scene?

I try to own the scene. If a scene is given to me, I don’t try and do it like somebody else would have done it. I don’t want to do it like my criticizers or other actors who might have already done that sort of scene. I want to make it “The Madhavan’s” so being within the character that has been defined helps me to try and make it my own. Therefore I think it becomes unique and one can achieve the right amount of realism and emotion to a scene.

you are one of the few actors from South to have made a successful career both in Hindi and tamil industry. Could you please elaborate?

I was lucky born a Tamilian and was brought up in the Hindi backdrop and this worked as the biggest strength for me to get into Bollywood. I’m more of a Hindi north based guy and I always write my dialogues in Hindi as my Hindi is good and there was never a doubt that I was not a Hindi guy.

Does history interests you? What historical figure would you be interested in portraying some day?

I’m a historian. (Laughs)To be honest I was always interested in history and knowing the past in simple terms. I believe in this saying “those who do not know history will forever remain nothing more than a child”. I would love to play Alexander The Great. He was spectacular and inspires me the most. He conquered most of the world when he was 32 and died fairly young. He was arguably the most influential ruler in history I would say.

tell us about what you’re working on now?

I am doing a Bollywood flick Chanda Mama Door Ke. I have my next year kind of full and got a couple of films in Tamil and a biopic which will be made in both Hindi and Tamil as well, also probably the remake of vikram vedha in Hindi.