VIDYA BALAN and AAMIR KHAN: Women at the Forefront

Image: www.satyamevjayate.in

This past Sunday saw the start of Aamir Khan's  socially relevant show Satyamev Jayate Season 2 with the topic of fighting rape and how to most effectively provide support to the victims of such a crime (read our review of Satyamev Jayate Season 1 here). As women of all ages and stories expressed their concern or told their stories on national television, the audience reacted and applauded their bravery, solidity and activism. 

Image: Apunkachoice

As International Women's Day approaches, STAR network will also be honoring women through a special Women's Day show: No More Kamzor, which will be hosted one of India's most talented actresses, Vidya Balan.
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VISHWAROOP and the Voice of Kamal Hassan

Kamal Hassan and Pooja Kumar at media meet in Bombay

Photograph by: Bollywoodhungama.com

India is a democracy that is admired by many a country in the world but when sensibilities in religious or communal groups are easily hurt, the foreign community observes with disarray and realizes how fragile a huge democracy might actually be.

Kamal Hassan's Vishwaroopam has been receiving great reviews from movie critics but has hurt a highly sensitive sector of the Muslim community this past week, thus sadly becoming the reason for a government issued ban on the film's release in the entire state of Tamil Nadu. Negotiations between Hassan's supporters, the government and the the film's detractors have however luckily softened the initial protests that made it controversial and the film is set to release in Bombay this Friday, as originally programmed.

The press in different sectors reports that protestors have not been able to provide proper arguments to support their cause given that the film solely portrays what is a sad reality in certain areas of Afghanistan: mainly the suffering of the Afghani population who is caught in the middle of a conflict between Al-Qaeda jihadis and the USA.

Let us not forget that Kamal Hassan is also the actor who made Hey Ram, a film that portrayed Hindu extremism. He is not a creative person to shy out of expressing his opinion through his work and this needs to be saluted. The protests and various bans seem deeply unfounded and it is sad to see that communities feel so easily targeted in a country that could be an example to many for its diversity. Communities should be aware that protesting against artistic liberty of expression, especially one that is not portraying their religion and community in a truly negative light, gives them more bad press than good reputation...

May Bombay's reaction to the film today clear any doubts of the national and international Muslim community regarding the film. May DTH releases, Internet paid screenings and other modern solutions for the cinema industry also free up creativity and allow viewers to have a choice and an option beyond what mobs or sudden bans can allow in the future.

YASH CHOPRA Rest in Peace

To most Bollywood viewers abroad, the name Yash Chopra conjures memories of discovering the world of Indian cinema, its emotions, its romance, its beauty and its music. 

The king of Bollywood romance passed away on October 21st following a multiple organ failure after succumbing to a serious strain of dengue fever. The film fraternity, friends and family have come to pay their homage at Studio 3 of Yash Raj studios before cremation took place. Colleagues from the film fraternity present at the studio were Shyam Benegal, Gulzar, Tabu, Shah Rukh Khan, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Rishi Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Subhash Ghai and Ashutosh Gowariker among many others.