I refrain from excessive commentary on films: Amitabh

New Delhi, He has been part of the Hindi film industry for four decades now but Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he refrains from "excessive commentary on films" as his knowledge of the medium is "beyond zero". 

"I have prevented myself from excessive commentary on films after they are ready, primarily because my knowledge of the medium is beyond zero and secondly because each time I have, the film has crashed at the box office. So much for the 40 years of my so called association with the business," Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com. 

Big B, as he is fondly called, raised the topic while recalling a incident when he first saw his 1981 film "Laawaris" in Bangalore before it was sent to distributors and exhibitors for release. 

Dejected at some of the "technical" glitches, the 66-year-old had then wanted to bring about changes in the Prakash Mehra movie. 

"Disappointed at some of the final technical results of the film...lamenting the glitches and waiting for the morning to appear so I could speak to Prakash Mehra and express my anguish and hope that he would give in to my suggestions of the changes I had in mind. 

"Apart from the fact that technically it was impossible to change anything...it was the calm and confident persuasion of my director that kept me from further despair. And more than that it was the massive success of the film that conveyed to me that I knew absolutely nothing and was completely out of sync with direction and the making of films," Amitabh wrote on his blog. 

Apart from Amitabh, "Laawaris" also starred Zeenat Aman, Amjad Khan and Raakhee.

RANN: media as a battle field setting the agenda for the nation unplugged

Trust Ram Gopal Verma to bounce back with a hard hitting subject, after he gets hit hard by the rejection of his previous films. With RANN set to release in a short while from now (also hoping that the impasse between the producers and the multiplex owners would be resolved by then), he has brought into focus the role of media in setting the agenda for and of the nation. The contextuality of the topic lies in the fact that with the on-going elections, and the postures that media has adopted, more so the electronic media, RANN would provide a reference point for introspection. 

For Big B it is return to his name Vijay once again through RANN, and may be the name Vijay signifying victory for Amitabh Bachchan for quite a long time, would again do the same with RANN as well. 

There might be voices of protest and troops of unrest against the attempt to deconstruct the national anthem and run it in modern contextuality, but the deliberate breaks in the songs that have been interspersed by Ram Gopal Verma should be seen in its proper perspective as the unity of the country is indeed under threat and what better way to symbolically represent it than interpreting it through the national anthem itself. 

CHECK OUT: RAM GOPAL VERMA Interview

For Riteish Deshmukh as well, it would be an interesting point of disruption in his career as he returns to the cinema with a serious role, which he has not done so far and this could indeed give a new lease of life to his career. 

As Amitabh Bachchan during the course of his interview for the promotion of film had said RANN is manifestation of what can happen when one tries to make commerce, as in the process of doing it a compromise with the conscience has to be made, and it is this compromise that is at the root of all evil. For Big B it could also be his take on his off and on relationship with the media. 

For all the critics who had hounded Ram Gopal Verma when he had gone to visit Taj after the Mumbai attack, may be the thing can be put in perspective with RANN as Ramu was indeed on a mission to understand the nature in which the attacks were covered, and the field out there is indeed a battle filed as the Hindi meaning of RANN goes by what with TRP ratings ruling the roost and setting the agenda.

- view RANN movie stills

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- view RANN movie poster

- view JANA GANA RANN lyrics

Big B and Shah Rukh visit Adnan Sami's ailing father

The Big B's visit to Adnan Sami's ailing father at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital on Thursday evening has triggered off the industry's A-Listers' conscience. On Friday, barely 24 hours after the Big B, Adnan's father Arshad Sami Khan was surprised to see another superstar-guest walk in. It was Shah Rukh Khan whom Adnan's father has almost adopted as a distant son in his heart.

Explains Adnan, "Shah Rukh resembles Dilip Kumar Saab so much. And Dilip Saab whom we call Yusuf Lala is not just a favourite of our family but also a relative. So to us Shah Rukh is a direct descendent of Yusuf Lala's heritage." 

The frail ailing Arshad Sami could barely speak but uttered two words, "Veer Zara". This was the former Pakistani diplomat's way of recalling the SRK film that did its substantial bit to improve relations between the two countries. 

Says Adnan emotionally, "I missed both Bachchan Saab and Shah Rukh by minutes. But at least my mother was there when Shah Rukh so graciously visited with his daughter. My father couldn't recall the names of all the Bachchan and SRK films he had seen except Veer Zara." 

The hugest moment post- Mr Bachchan's visit was a call from Rajesh Khanna. Says Adnan, "I've seen his Prem Nagar at least a million times. When he called and spoke such wonderful words of consolation-'God is there for everyone I'm sure he's there for you too'-I was overwhelmed." 

The other dream come true was a call from Saira Banu. "Mr Dilip Kumar whom I call Yusuf Lala and Sairaji are relatives. I envy Yusuf Lala for a wife who's so devoted and for so long." 

The Kokilaben hospital is suddenly a beehive of Bollywood activities. On Thursday Mr. Bachchan dropped into see Karan Johar's mom who underwent neuro-surgery, Dimple Kapadia's sister Simple who's critically ill, Adnan's father and Prakash Mehra. 

In fact Mehra is an ICU flank next to Adnan's father. When Adnan got to know that the man who created some of Adnan's favourite childhood celluloid fantasies with Big B was lying ill in the room next to his father, he did what any sensitive person would. 

Says Adnan, "I walked into Prakashji's ICU to quietly take his blessings. But what do you know! He recognized me in that condition and did the popular hand movement from my song 'Lift Kara De' with the Big B. It was his utterly endearing gesture of acknowledging me and my love for the movies that he did with the Big B. At times like these, being in the hospital is no more an acknowledgement of mortality. It becomes a celebration of life."

Big B in trouble over tax rebate ruling

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Monday got a notice from the Supreme Court on a plea challenging a judicial verdict allowing 30 per cent tax rebate on his income to the tune of Rs.509 million in fiscal 2001-02.
A bench of Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justice Aftab Alam sought Bachchan's stand on the lawsuit by the union government's Income Tax Department.
The bench also asked the actor to account for his 2001-02 income and expenditure with appropriate proof and adjourned the matter for final hearing on October 28.
The case largely pertains to the actor's income from the popular TV game show Kaun Banega Crorepati on Star TV.
The Bombay High Court had allowed the actor to avail the tax relief accepting his plea that as an artist he was entitled to the exemption as per section 80 RR of the Income Tax Act.
The Income Tax Department, however, challenged the high court ruling contending that section 80 RR of the IT Act grants tax rebates only to those artistes who earn either by performing outside the country or receive payment from foreign agencies.
The tax authorities have contended that the TV show was produced by Indian firm Star India Ltd. that renders him ineligible for the tax rebate.

"Politics? No Thanks!" says Amitabh Bachchan

Strongly refuting the lately-perpetrated speculation on his return to politics Amitabh Bachchan says, "I'm not into politics at all of any kind. There's absolutely no question of my going into politics. I've repeatedly said I don't understand politics, nor do I have any wish to get into it in any capacity. Let me say once and for all I'm not going to get into it . I don't make any political statements. Nor am I on any political platform. I'm not qualified to understand or participate in any of our politics."
But then what about Amar Singh's statement to the effect that the Big B might be asked to stand elections? "Ask him why he said what he said. Why are you asking me?" reasons the Big B calmly.
The Big B admits that perhaps his close association with politicians who are his friends, often leads to the belief that he is going the political way. "I agree I've many friends who are heavily into politics and affiliated to many different parties. But I do not follow any of their political ideology. You are also my friend. Does it mean I might take to journalism? Or would it be right to presume that you'd become an actor just because you know me so well?"
While the speculation on Tuesday ran rife after a close family- friend Amar Singh alluded to the Big B's return to politics, the actor was busy shooting a music video for his forthcoming release Baabul. "The video is woven around my song Kehta hai babul. I think they'll use my song only in the credit titles and the end titles�or maybe a portion in the background."
About the controversy surrounding Abhishek receiving the Yash Bharti award in Lucknow , the Big B responds, "Achcha hai. There should be debate and questioning in any free society. We're a democratic country and everyone is entitled to an opinion."