After the box office disappointment of Chandni Chowk to China, director Nikhil Advani returns with a film set in London with full on Punjabiyat and nationalism at its core. Right at the start we see racial riots, skinheads, racially motivated killing of a member of the Kahlon family and are given the back story for why Rishi Kappor is the kind of patriarch he is. He lives in his own little enclave, populated with his extended family that we are never really introduced to, other than to be told that they all have aspirations that do not match the expectations the patriarch has of them.
The man who mesmerized women of all ages for almost a decade, got letters from them written their own blood, and caused mass hysteria wherever he went, Rajesh Khanna, is the subject of this documentary:
BBC reporter Jack Pizzey managed to get exceptional access to Rajesh Khanna and the result is this fascinating documentary – Rajesh Khanna – Bombay Superstar.
TweedleJi and TweedleD rarely watch movies together – their tastes are as different as chalk and cheese. The last time they had bumped into each other while watching Dev D. And then suddenly here they were in a line buying popcorn for the showing of Dabangg.
TweedleD: Hi Ji – I thought this would not be your kind of film, strange to see you here. Galat film mein aa gaye kya? (Are you in the wrong movie?)
TweedleJi: Arre D, I heard a lot about this Chulbul Pandey – the fellow who is a small town corrupt cop, wears Ray Bans and dances like a male stripper. I am here to see what it is that attracts men and women to a persona like that. So I thought a single screen would be the best place to experience this first hand.
(Many thanks to Illusionist for bringing this documentary to my notice) The man who mesmerized women of all ages for almost a decade, got letters from them written in their own blood, and caused mass hysteria wherever he went, Rajesh Khanna, is the subject of this documentary:
BBC reporter Jack Pizzey managed to get exceptional access to Rajesh Khanna and the result is this fascination documentary – Rajesh Khanna – Bombay Superstar.
Part 1:
Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his entire set are waiting for the superstar to arrive for the filming of Namak Haraam. When he does arrive a game of one-upmanship begins and it Rajesh who blinks first.
Part 2:
After making the filming crew wait for five days with appointments he does not keep, he finally meets up with them for this documentary. When asked - How do you stay on top? His response is - You have to be cruel, I am impulsive, do things by intuition. His sudden decision to marry 15-16 year old Dimple, one film old, is described at length in this clip – is it true love or the result of a night with 14 drinks? Gossip columnist Devi (Devyani Chaubal) from Star and Style thinks it is the latter.
Part 3:
Next the film-makers talk to J Om Prakash and a new film he is about to make with Rajesh. On location in Kashmir, Rajesh talks about that “expression” in his eyes, that smile, that acts as a lure for women!
Part 4:
The leading lady is Mumtaz! The crowds on location jostle to see what is going on. Rajesh says he loves the attention. Mumtaz simply shrugs and pouts. Lata sings the song that is to be filmed, before that the microphone is garlanded by Pancham. Mumtaz can turn the smile and pout on and off like a TAP! The bitchy gossip columnist, Devi (an outspoken lady) says Rajesh was better before but all superstars become a bore and they have nothing to offer to anyone. The narrator feels that picturizing a song is an impressively thorough and exhausting business.
Part 5:
We go through 20 takes on one step onto a rock in time to the music! Rajesh talks of how his voice is similar to Kishore Kumar’s and getting the movement perfectly matched to the beat is what gets “seeti” moments in the theater. Then we see poison pen Devi talk about Mumtaz, and how we only know of Naz, her mother, but nothing about her father. Mumtaz decides to take her to court, and says the classic line (the resonates even today in film journalism) “All they want to do is sell magazines!!!” She is also extremely grounded and talks of how one day she may wake and after 5 years at the top it is suddenly ALL OVER.
Part 6:
Things look on the downside for Rajesh as he is not awarded the Filmfare that year. Fans threaten to boycott buying FF and the star arranges a rival party on the awards night. Many show up at the party, even though news is doing the rounds that Rajesh is ill and may not show at either the awards or the party! He does arrive at the party with his young wife in tow. Amitabh is talking the best actor award while the party goes on at the other end of town, with Rakhi, Dilip Kumar and a small number of lesser stars. A king is being dethroned.
Part 7:
When asked what he felt as he attended a rival party while the Filmfares were being awarded, Rajesh replies – “It was a coincidence, it was not planned!!!” His latest film Daag is about to release after 5 flops in a row, and Rajesh is worried. He is looking at different roles, he is introspective about falling from grace. The Daag premiere night and Dimple is getting ready, gushing about loving premieres as her hair is put into an elaborate do. They arrive at the premiere.
(Many thanks to Illusionist for bringing this documentary to my notice) The man who mesmerized women of all ages for almost a decade, got letters from them written in their own blood, and caused mass hysteria wherever he went, Rajesh Khanna, is the subject of this documentary:
BBC reporter Jack Pizzey managed to get exceptional access to Rajesh Khanna and the result is this fascination documentary – Rajesh Khanna – Bombay Superstar.
Part 1:
Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his entire set are waiting for the superstar to arrive for the filming of Namak Haraam. When he does arrive a game of one-upmanship begins and it Rajesh who blinks first.
Part 2:
After making the filming crew wait for five days with appointments he does not keep, he finally meets up with them for this documentary. When asked - How do you stay on top? His response is - You have to be cruel, I am impulsive, do things by intuition. His sudden decision to marry 15-16 year old Dimple, one film old, is described at length in this clip – is it true love or the result of a night with 14 drinks? Gossip columnist Devi (Devyani Chaubal) from Star and Style thinks it is the latter.
Part 3:
Next the film-makers talk to J Om Prakash and a new film he is about to make with Rajesh. On location in Kashmir, Rajesh talks about that “expression” in his eyes, that smile, that acts as a lure for women!
Part 4:
The leading lady is Mumtaz! The crowds on location jostle to see what is going on. Rajesh says he loves the attention. Mumtaz simply shrugs and pouts. Lata sings the song that is to be filmed, before that the microphone is garlanded by Pancham. Mumtaz can turn the smile and pout on and off like a TAP! The bitchy gossip columnist, Devi (an outspoken lady) says Rajesh was better before but all superstars become a bore and they have nothing to offer to anyone. The narrator feels that picturizing a song is an impressively thorough and exhausting business.
Part 5:
We go through 20 takes on one step onto a rock in time to the music! Rajesh talks of how his voice is similar to Kishore Kumar’s and getting the movement perfectly matched to the beat is what gets “seeti” moments in the theater. Then we see poison pen Devi talk about Mumtaz, and how we only know of Naz, her mother, but nothing about her father. Mumtaz decides to take her to court, and says the classic line (the resonates even today in film journalism) “All they want to do is sell magazines!!!” She is also extremely grounded and talks of how one day she may wake and after 5 years at the top it is suddenly ALL OVER.
Part 6:
Things look on the downside for Rajesh as he is not awarded the Filmfare that year. Fans threaten to boycott buying FF and the star arranges a rival party on the awards night. Many show up at the party, even though news is doing the rounds that Rajesh is ill and may not show at either the awards or the party! He does arrive at the party with his young wife in tow. Amitabh is talking the best actor award while the party goes on at the other end of town, with Rakhi, Dilip Kumar and a small number of lesser stars. A king is being dethroned.
Part 7:
When asked what he felt as he attended a rival party while the Filmfares were being awarded, Rajesh replies – “It was a coincidence, it was not planned!!!” His latest film Daag is about to release after 5 flops in a row, and Rajesh is worried. He is looking at different roles, he is introspective about falling from grace. The Daag premiere night and Dimple is getting ready, gushing about loving premieres as her hair is put into an elaborate do. They arrive at the premiere.
