Madhur Bhandarkar entertains with his down to earth humour

Madhur can I take a selfie with you please? with so many others milling around with the same idea, its difficult, however Madhur takes my mobile in his own hand with the words - "Laa, main leta hun na" and presto the deed is done 😊

Famed film director, script writer and producer Madhur Bhandarkar interviewed by Amit Goel, Group Vice Chair, The Pioneer, turned out to be an entertaining session, with Madhur sharing his journey of success in the film industry, to his views on various societal issues and his support of Indian Prime Minister Modi

  Madhur Bhandarkar against poster of his film "Indu Sarkar"

From rags to riches....better still from a delivery boy for delivering videos of films, to celebrated deliverer of highly successful films....today one of the top directors of the Hindi Film Industry or Bollywood (shouldnt that be Mollywood? now that Bombay is back to its original pre-British rule name of Mumbai). Though highly successful, and surely he knows it, when an audience member praised his film he was quick to express gratitude.

Awarded the prestigious Padma Shri and as many as three National Film Awards, he remains unassuming and without airs and thereby immensely likable

Some snippets -

I wasn't  particularly good at studies, wanted to study at FTII but minimum requirement was graduation so that was out

Not many people know my first movie was "Trishakti", not "Chandni Bar". But "Trishakti" came and went without being noticed, I had to struggle a lot after that

I research my subjects intensely both by observation of actual situations and by reading a lot...I love reading

An example of his observation incorporated in his movie "Page 3" - at a funeral ceremony, its bizarre that while the puja is going on people are discussing what they are going to wear at tonight's wedding, or which party they will be going to👀

He gets multifarious reactions for his films - some feel he has been responsible for their business suffering, while others feel it gave them direction to improve

His outspokenness against the recent anti- Prime Minister Modi tirade by several film fraternity, because he says - I admire Modi, have seen the good work he has done in Gujarat, I think he is good for our country, besides this is selective and unfair criticism by these buddhijivis (pseudo intellectuals)

A lesser known talent - he ends with a small dose of mimicry 😃😜

Unpretentious, matter of fact, relaxed, smiling, with witty humour....bindaas... that's Madhur Bhandarkar for you

Come monsoon blooms the Rajnigandha in Delhi

The Rajnigandha or tuberose is an ubiquitous part of Delhi gardens. The long spiky stems hold sprays of white blooms scented with a gentle fragrance

Immortalized in the 1974 hit Hindi movie "Rajnigandha" produced by Suresh Jindal, directed by Basu Chatterjee, these flowers became the inveterate communication between the film's protagonists. Sanjay, played by Amol Palekar, is disorganized, perpetually late, no hot shot in studies, in effect nobody's idea of Prince Charming, yet he charms Deepa, played by Vidya Sinha, by never forgetting to bring her flowers - a bunch of rajnigandha. His ordinariness is reflected in the bouquet of tuberoses, presumably fragrant, some drooping, nonetheless appreciated by her.
Watch film's title song "rajnigandha phool tumhare" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j5dRsWevdM

Single flowers of rajnigandha strung together forming long white strands are often used as decoration in Indian weddings. Famed aromatherapist Blossom Kochhar has used rajnigandha flowers for calming therapy

Many other flowers burst forth in Delhi in monsoon - the spider lily with its lantern like buds, the aromatic motia (jasmine) used for garlands and gajras (hair ties), the crimson hibiscus which presents a stunning contrast against its own shiny dark green leaves, champa (frangipani or plumeria), fireball lily among others

Spider Lily

Fireball Lily

Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2019 had “beaten two opponents” aptly described by The New York Times

A match lasting 3 minutes less than 5 hours, not so rare a sight in tennis grand slams when two aces clash. Looked forward to an exhilarating Sunday, stationed in front of TV screen, to view Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer playing in the Wimbledon 2019 final. The players did not disappoint but the spectators punctured the entertainment somewhat with their constant, raucous, one-sided bias towards one player - Federer, even to the extent of clapping at the Serb's mistakes. Tennis is considered a gentleman’s game (not a ladies?) but in this match, the non-favourite needed to muster all his mental powers to ensure the creepy crowd’s come-uppance. As Novak stated in the after-match interview, when the crowd yelled “Roger” I heard “Novak”.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been my favourites forever…..all three superb  players, they have given such great joy to viewers, over so many years, through their sheer genius. One wants to see a battle of talent, a balance of artistry, which is what normally happens when two of these are playing against each other, and triumphing on the basis of who scored more winners, not a virtuoso routing a weaker opponent, as happens when they play in the opening rounds.

For whatever reasons the English crowd preferred the Swiss, over the Wimbledon defending champion Djokovic, how hurt Novak was, showed through his expressionless face on winning. None of the falling to the ground, covering one’s face etc. all he did was look joyously towards his own team. As is his greatness he thanked the ground and the heavens, but refrained from his customary greeting to the audience after every win, where he spreads his arms, turning in all four directions, showering love and gratitude.

The New York Times has summed up this match very well in the link given below:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/14/.../novak-djokovic-roger-federer-wimbledon.html

4 Sixers - Nothing Succeeds like Success

In the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (non-going for India, sadly) in England, India stumbled losing by 18 runs in the semifinal played vs New Zealand, at the Old Trafford in Manchester spread over two days due to rain on the first day. The Dream Team touted as the contenders for the world cup are out of the world cup

Much ado had been made of this ouster

analysis, criticism, news, anger by analysts, critics, media, public, ex-cricketers

The middle batting order failed, why was Rishabh Pant sent in at number 4, why was the highly experienced Mahinder Singh Dhoni not sent in earlier or why is this senior citizen playing here at all ?X%$, why were this and this players included and why this and this players excluded, where was the need for Rishabh Pant to make that irresponsible shot, or for Hardik Pandya to emulate him?

The inimical Mohamad Azharuddin could only find faults. Why was bowler Shami excluded, Dhoni is old and should not be playing, even questioning Virat Kohli’s captaincy and if at all he should continue as captain

blah blah blah

Few brought forth the achievements and accomplishments of this team. This is the team which won a whopping 7 out of 9 matches played, lost only one match (to England, who are now in the finals) and one game washed out, topping the league table. Only one other team (Australia, who have now lost to England in the other semifinals) has equaled this remarkable record in this tournament.

Rohit Sharma's centuries garnered him 648 runs and a batting average of 80, Jasprit Bumrah has been exceptional, the flamboyant Jadeja made a career best 77 with 4 swashbuckling sixers under enormous pressure coming in at number 8 with India tottering in the semifinal. Shikhar Dhawan continued to play for several hours with a fractured thumb in the first match against Australia leading India to victory with his 117 runs. Hardik Pandya had a groin injury but valiantly batted against New Zealand in the semifinal. Are these tales of valour and accomplishments not worth reflecting on.

Sachin Tendulkar remained balanced with an all encompassing analysis, pointing out that every team has a bad day, preferring to highlight Team India's overall achievements in the tournament.

In the semifinal against New Zealand, 25 runs were needed with 10 balls left, a gargantuan but not impossible task with the seasoned Dhoni still at the crease. Dhoni has come up muster with his steely nerves in earlier ODI’s, his late entry was warranted to take control of a bad situation and effectively take on the challenge of the run chase. Dhoni may well have managed that, if not for the accuracy of Guptill’s direct throw on the stumps, running out Dhoni and running out India’s hopes.

If only Dhoni had not been runout, if only 4 sixers had been struck, even if it was a tie with New Zealand, India by virtue of better run rate and topping the round robin stage with only one loss vs New Zealand's 3 defeats, would have been through the Final. Then the same critics would have gloating, none of the talk of the middle order, selection of players etc. would have been expounded on

Nothing succeeds like success
If only
4 Sixers