I watchedPardes(2007) this week and have not been able to find out who this man is pictured below. Kaun hai?
He plays the very wise friend to Shahrukh Khan’s character, Arjun. At first I thought that maybe the sage was played by Arshad Warsi, but he’s not in the credits. Do you notice how wise he is? While the others in this scene are dancing and playing with balloons, as is so typical of Hindustanis worldwide, he is still, taking in the bigger picture, and contemplating the inner workings of Arjun’s heart and soul. So please help me out and look beyond the Bollywood balloons and tell me what is the name of this wise, bearded man, playing with his mullet. And maybe as your own personal challenge during this week’s Diwali and Halloween celebrations, you can take the time between balloons, cakes, costumes, candy, parties, and lights, to stand still, play with your hair and try to figure out what Shahrukh Khan and his various characters are really thinking, I know I will.
Updated 11/6/10
Thanks Shweta and Tapan for bringing to light in their comments on this post that the actor in question isPavan Malhotra. I now realize that I’ve seen him in several movies before, including Earth(1998), Black Friday(2004), Don – The Chase Begins Again (2006), Jab We Met (2007), Delhi 6 (2009) and most recently in Badmaash Company (2010), where once again he plays a sage (Uncle Jazz) doling out timeless good advice to those in need.
I love a good orphan film, and there’s not much more I can say about Ram Jaane than hasn’t already been said so well byFortune City and Post Punk Cinema Club, but I can show you some of the parts that I really enjoyed. Just look at the cool movie poster from the film with bloody fisted, red headband wearing SRK and I think there’s ample evidence that this is a good film.
Ram Jaane(1995)translation: “Ram Knows” or “God Knows”) is a 1995IndianBollywood movie directed by Rajiv Mehra about an unnamed kid (portrayed by Shahrukh Khan) who grows up to become a gangster. He uses the name Ram Jaane after meeting with a priest who in response to the kid asking about his name said “Ram Jaane” (God knows). The movie ranks the 8th highest grossing Hindi movie of 1995 and is also the fourth time Shahrukh Khan is playing a negative role after Baazigar, Darr and Anjaam. (source)
So here we start with a feisty young street lad, Ram, who meets his childhood companions who he continues to befriend into adulthood. Prior to being named Ram, short for Ram Jaane, he was known as Footpath.
Eventually he becomes officially known as Ram Jaane.
He’s a small time hustler with lots of style, the bad boy you can’t help but love.
Sometimes his goonda living and dacoitery catches up with him and he lands in the clinker, and he suffers and bleeds from the mouth, which is something that I firmly belive King Khan does better than any actor! Dekh:
One day I’ll do a post on a collection of SRK screen captures from various films where he bleeds from the mouth. Devdas would have some good mouth bleeding material, na? The story has the love triangle plot between the 3 life long friends. After a bit of jail time, Ram reunites with his childhood pals Murli (Vivek Mushram) who helps the street kids, and Bela (Juhi Chawla).
Ram falls for Bela, but realizes that his pal Murli also loves Bela, or is it Bela who loves Murli, details. Either way, Ram Jaane becomes a tad jealous and insecure as a result of this situation. He begins to question his self worth.
Ram eventually is overtaken by what the viewer may think is blind rage and he roughs up Bela, and eventually gives her a tight slap to the face, which he immediately regrets.
BUT, but, but did he hit her out of a jealous rage? Did he hit her because of his inability to soothe his own psyche independently of his love object? Nahin! As it turns out he hit her out of love, because he knew his friend loved her and by hitting Bela she would turn to Murli for love. Problem solved! Hey, I’m not saying it’s a good idea, but it worked. Now clear your mind from the disturbing image of SRK’s character being violent with his love interest, and enjoy the title track from the film Ram Jaane with playback singers, Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan, and music by Anu Malik.
A while back I did a post on B.Rohrer’s SRK Fantasies in which the artist pays tribute to SRK in a series of creative pieces. Recently I was lucky to run across another such creative fan on youtube and Breaking Free of the Box has taken things to a whole new level with this video tribute to Ram Jaane. How can my humble collection of screen captures from the films measure up to the devotional nature of Breaking Free of the Box‘s work? It can’t, so now, I’ve saved the best for last so sit down and get ready to be entertained. In the words of Breaking Free of the Box:
Here’s a miniature tribute to Shahrukh and Juhi . . . Let’s hope that someday they make another romantic film as intense as their earlier ones. . . Enjoy!! (source)
Did you notice the Central Jail on the mini set?
To wrap things up neatly as Bollywood so often does, let’s take a moment to empathize with our film’s orphan:
Let’s now go on to be uplifted by the orphan, who has been enlightened through his suffering, only to go on to inspire us all! Jai Bollywood wisdom:
P. S. Due to heavy international pressure from the blogging community, and to avoid further mutiny from blog commenters, I must make mention of SRK’s style of wearing a suit jacket without any shirt underneath (think of the ring around the collar!) in the film and link in the song Pump Up the Bhangra. Thanks readers for keeping me on my toes! Now pump up some bhangra!
Bollywood Insider Friday 01 May 2009: Tributes from stars to Feroz Khan, IIFA venue and nominations announced, Shahrukh takes IPL break to cast vote
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Bollywood Insider Friday 15 May 2009: Our Insiders at Cannes bring us Aishwarya and Abishek on the red carpet – IPL filling movie void with Shahrukh, Shilpa, and Preity
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Bollywood Insider Friday 22 May 2009: This week in Cannes, we ask Barbara Mori and Hrithik Roshan about ‘those’ rumours, and speak to them about all things ‘Kites’
Towards the middle of “The Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan — the second of the two reflective and moving documentaries directed by British Indian filmmaker and writer, Nasreen Munni Kabir — the Bollywood star states: ‘There are three people in me: A person, an actor and a star. I try to keep as much in touch with reality as I can. Try to remember what the star did, what the actor did and what I did. Most people I know become so schizophrenic, they forget.’ Kabir’s two films, The Inner World of Shah Rukh Khan (produced for Britain’s Channel 4) and The Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan (produced for Khan’s Red Chillies International), do exactly that — show how Khan lives in three worlds at all times, trying to keep a balance, his sanity and also staying rooted to reality. (source)
The Outer Worldshows SRK on the road with the Temptations Tour in 2004. Khan is filmed smoking cigarettes as much or even more than in his Inner World disc. Khan is shown both on stage and more interestingly behind the stage with his Bollywood buddies, Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Rampal,Rani Mukergee, Preity Zinta, and Priyanka Chopra. Khan is so incredibally hardworking, that he seems nearly manic. He’s shown as so dedicated, enthusiastic and putting so much effort into the tour that I wish I could have seen it! Also, I’ve found many videos of Khan’s Tour Diary, which makes me want to get a hold of that to watch. In my other post on the Inner World, blogger Bollywood Deewana commented that SRK seemed like a diva in some of the footage. At first I didn’t understand where this was shown in Kabir’s video’s, but when I found footage of The Temptation Tour Diary, I was able to see SRK having a bit of a fit HERE.
Aamir Khan shows up back stage, rocking hisMangal Pandey (2005) look hard. Too bad I couldn’t get a clearer shot of the Khans on the big screen together, (see that theBolloywoodFan?) well not in a movie, a documentary, but still:
In the clips I saw of the tour within the documentary, the number that I’d want to see most is the one with Rani and Preity doing some classical dancing. They both look fantastic. Here’s a video of that portion of the tour HERE.
One of the more touching scenes is SRK doing one of the many back stage meet and greets with a young girl with what looks like cerebral palsey. I seeing how comfortable and caring he was with the child, since often times people act so awkward when dealing with people who have physical and mental disabilities.
And of course there are lots of smoking scenes. Lots!
The Inner World of Shahrukh Khan (2005) was sure a treat to watch. If you haven’t already seen this documentary, I’m sure you’ve at least seen the many ads for it that run before you watch your Bollywood DVDs, hai na? It’s the first part of a set of documentaries, the second being The Outer World of Shahrukh Khan, which I’ll cover in my next post. The Inner World, by filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir, focuses on just that, SRK’s inner world, which is full of medical treatments for his back, spending time with his family at Mannat, behind the scenes of Main Hoon Na, and lots and lots of smoking. I got second had smoke damage to my lungs from watching SRK in this film. King Khan has a true pyaar for his cigarettes! He works hard. He smokes hard.
The documentary titled: ‘The Inner World of Shahrukh Khan’ is of 49 minutes duration and has tried to cover the snippets of star’s early struggling days to his reigning ones. The documentary starts with speaking of SRK born in a Delhi family in November 2, 1965. SRK was found be always an intelligent speaker and brought laurels to his college, Hansraj College. SRK completed his film television and Journalism degree from Jamia Milia Islamia. The film portrays struggling days in Mumbai, how he came to Barry John’s theatre classes, his mother’s death and then sister grew ill and the college romance with a Hindu girl, Gauri. Notwithstanding, Nasreen has done a wonderful job in keeping the viewers engrossed. Though Nasreen had earlier worked with Lata Mangeshkar, Javed Akhtar and Amitabh Bachchan, getting Shahrukh Khan to say ‘yes’ was quite an upheaval task. Firstly, SRK has a limited amount of time at his disposal and then SRK prefers privacy. But SRK ultimately gave in to Nasreen. Interestingly, Shahrukh later told that sometimes when he was clamoring for fame, he would have been anytime ready for a photo shoot or an interview. The documentary has been shot mostly on and off the sets of MAIN HOON NAA. Nasreen has traveled alongside SRK to his Delhi’s school days. The film traces moments of solitude as the king Khan prays for his back in his mother’s graveyard. Nasreen however ruled out any sparks of controversy to be any reason behind the documentary. She tried her level best to keep a clear picture of the person, but gave SRK enough time and privacy. SRK watched the film thrice before giving its approval and was in quite deep thoughts after watching it. SRK is a family-centric person and loves to be with his lovely wife and kids. The document comes to an end with Shahrukh’s birthday. Produced and directed the first television series on Indian cinema to be broadcast on UK channel 4; it surely is something that SRK’s fans would die for. (source)
There are some very sweet scenes with his family at their home, Mannat, celebrating diwali. Shahrukh explains that his son understands what he does for a living but jokes that his little daughter still thinks that he’s Aamir Khan.
In case you decide to stalk Mr. Khan, his driveway and front yard in Bandra look like this:
You can follow THIS LINKand as long as it lasts it will show SRK and his cute little beti and some scenes at Mannat that I’ve screen capped here.
Khan’s back problems and treatment methods are covered. He sees a doctor and physical therapist.
He also sees an energy healer for his back pain. SRK even demonstrates his back massaging skills that he’s probably learned from his own treatments on his friend, director and choreographer, Farah Khan, behind the scenes of Main Hoon Na.
One of the sweetest scenes for me in the documentary is Shahrukh’s trip back to the school he attended as a kid in Delhi. The brothers are so happy to see him and SRK states that he felt so touched to be back in a place where people knew him before he was famous.
The documentary did have one disturbing segment to me; Karan Johar fawning over SRK, giggling about how he would be so afraid to ever have Khan yell at him. I recall Johar saying something like, “I just don’t know WHAT I’d do if he ever yelled at me. I think I’d just start crying! I’ve gotten a lot of help and advice from Gauri about how to handle Shahrukh and his moods. When he’s angry, it’s best to stay away. I would just never want him to yell at me!” I wanted to get up and go through the TV screen and give Johar a tight slap to the face to snap him out of his fantasy. I think he’d actually LOVE to have Shahrukh yell at him. Then he could cry and hope that SRK would gently cradle him in his arms and stroke his hair.
Kylie Minogue in Mumbai, Shilpa Shetty and the Indian Premier League, Pinto power as Freida takes on the world post Slumdog. Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
I admit it, I’m a hypocrite. Just yesterday I wrote “Slumdog, Bas!” I’m not really a hypocrite though since I liked the movie and I’m happy over the film’s success, and love Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. I just don’t like the Bollywood confusion from the film’s success, or rather the film being mistaken for Bollywood. So brush my hypocrisy aside, as I often do, and enjoy Suzi Mann with Bollywood Insider’s latest chugli reports:
2/27/09: Bollywood Insider Slumdog Oscars party exclusive! We interview Anil Kapoor and Danny Boyle at the Slumdog Oscars party, fresh from scooping 8 awards:
“Shah Rukh’s surgery went off fine and he should be back home in two days. However, he will require some good rest for a long period and he has been advised not to do any strenuous work,” said Sanjay Desai, orthopaedic surgeon at Breach Candy Hospital here. (The Hindu)
This blog is all about cutting and pasting today friends. I mean it often is, but today more so than usual:
Prayers For Shahrukh Khan’s Speedy Recovery: Prayers were performed at a hair-cutting saloon in Bhopal to wish a speedy recovery of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, who underwent a successful shoulder surgery on Monday. Naresh Sen, a barber in the saloon said that Khan had inspired their community to become successful through his film Billu. “The havan(ritual) which I performed was for Shahrukh Khan to live a longer life. He will live much longer. I performed this ritual in my saloon because he has given us inspiration through his film Billuand an opportunity for the poor class to move forward.” said Naresh. The 43-year-old actor underwent an arthroscopic surgery on left shoulder, which kept nagging him for quite sometime. Doctors at the Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital said Khan was recovering well. The operation lasted for around one-and-a-half hours by a team of three doctors, a hospital official said. Before he left for the hospital Khan said that getting injured was part of his job. “I think when you working in a profession like this you ought to fall and jump. It is obvious you can get wounded like this. So I always believe this is a payment for all the goodness that I get,” said Khan. (Hindustan Times)
First off, could Amitabh be looking any cooler than in these photos of him posted on his blog recently?
I think we all have to admit that he can even rock that cartoon bear sweater and not only get away with it, but somehow make it look cool. Who can do that?! Amitabh Bachchan can. More cut and paste, this time from Mr. Bachchan’s blog from day 300 in which he writes about ShahRukh Khan’s successful surgery:
ShahRukh has been in hospital for a surgery. I had sent him a message for his speedy recovery. He calls back to thank and inform that he is home. Was getting depressed in hospital he says so came away. Oh ! I was planning on visiting you in hospital. Come home sir, we shall play some games. Do not take after surgery too lightly I warn him, take rest and do not get into any kind of activity. He sounds a little groggy. I shall visit him tomorrow. (bigb.bigadda.com)
Speaking of, I recently read a good book with the same title,Snakes and Ladders, by Gita Mehtawhich you may like reading, since you are here in the first place.
Or maybe they’d play some Texas hold em? Or what about this game here which I’ve seen in the Indian films called carrom? Well probably carrom is out until his shoulder is fully healed.
I love imaging playing some table games with SRK and Amitabh at Mannat! I spent an evening playing dominoes the other night, which I love to do. Now, since reading the posting on Amitabh’s blog, I’m thinking how fun it would be to play dominoes with Amitabh and SRK. Or spades or hearts! My mind is spinning with the possibilities now that I know they’re both gamers. I also love a jigsaw puzzle. Can you imagine THAT? “Hey Amit-ji, here’s another edge piece.” I just know that Amitabh would have the sense to construct the edge of the puzzle first. “Aur SRK, are you still working on the sky? Here’s a couple blue pieces. Vay!” We’d finish the puzzle whilst sipping on Johnnie Walker, black or perhaps even blue or green label since they are so fancy. We’d discuss many things. I would mind my tongue and casually say The Indian Film Industry and NEVER say Bollywood, as that may set off the stars. I would ask even more fake casually if they wanted to play chess (which I can’t play) and say, “Oh by the way, Amit-ji, I remember when watching The Chess Players, that I heard your voice narrating. Do tell me what you remember about working with Satyajit Ray on that piece?” His head would snap and look to me, thinking suddenly that I had some Bollywood, I mean Indian Film Industry street cred. The lovely Gauri Khan would slip in from time to time with some ladoos, maybe a paratha or two and some chai. Not the help, but Guari, because she’s a hands on wife I’m sure. Finally, late into the evening, Gauri comes in and says, “Janeman ShahRukh, time to rest, remember you just had surgery! OK guys, Amitabh-ji, Sita-ji, thanks so much for stopping by. The flowers are lovely! Do come tomorrow for a swim!”
On that note, like Amitabh, I say to SRK along with you all, “take rest and do not get into any kind of activity.” Get well soon, we need more movies!
Today was Valentine’s Day. I had some options. I could either get started on preparing my income taxes or go and see Billu Barber (2009). I went to Billu Barber. This was really a cute and sweet movie. It was also very romantic for me since I could channel my imagination to play Lara Dutta’s part in the film and thus be Irfan Khan’s wife, whose part requires her to admire Shahrukh Khan’s character. That’s a win/win situation for me. SRK’s character had item numbers with Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, and Kareena Kapoor. Khan and the gals all looked fantastic, but the costume department must have had to make some concessions for the weak economy and only allowed Kareena to wear a full outfit, and put poor Priyanka and Deepika in small strips of cloth, which made me feel cold just watching.
Shahrukh Khan’s ending speech was shamelessly sentimental and I enjoyed crying through it. I feel it’s only right to cry along with SRK while he’s crying. To weep along with SRK is polite really, and the least I could do to show some respect to him and the industry, and to my Mother India. This speech had the following essential Bollywood ingredients: maudlin reminiscing about better times from childhood, even though those times were sorrowful (dead mother), and hard (hunger brought about by poverty), they were made better through the help of a friend. SRK delivering a message that the masses need to hear in these trying economic times: When I was really poor, my life was actually really rich. Which reminds me, I have to get to those taxes. SRK’s speech in Billu reminded me very much the speech Amitabh gives in Muqaddar Ka Sikandarjust before the O Saathi Re tune. So this Valentine’s Day, dosto, I dedicate this nice song about friendship to you:
I always enjoy watching these FIRST DAY FIRST SHOW videos. Watch it and picture me added in there; I would be the gori who says in my best Indian accent, “SRK was rocking hai! Supurb! Vay! Irfan was acting so excellent!”
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Here’s a better late than never update on Bollywood Insider, with my favorite correspondant of Bollywood chugli and news, Suzi Mann. Many of the links I’ve added here before from ITN/Bollywood Insider through youtube eventually disappear. Hopefully these newer links from AOL, Bebo, Joost, and MySpace will last.
Bollywood Food Club 
