Personalities

Ameen Sayani: The legendary radio-man of India

Personalities

Ameen Sayani, Who United The Soul Of India

We knew each other well from the time I headed All India Radio and Doordarshan, as CEO, Prasar Bharati. I was his great admirer. During my public talk, I pointed to Ameen Sayani in the audience and mentioning why I considered him not just as a fascinating entertainer — India’s first radio jockey — but as someone who made a great, but unrecognised contribution in the unification of India.

Jawhar Sircar February 26, 2024

Personalities

We Lost The Kohinoor Of Indian Radio: Mir Afsar Ali Pays Tribute To Ameen Sayani (1932-2024)

I vehemently argued that no other paste should enter our house except for Binaca. The sole reason was my affinity towards Binaca Geetmala on the radio by Ameen Sayani!

Mir Afsar Ali February 23, 2024

Personalities

Habib Tanvir: The Man Who Introduced Folk Forms in Urban Theatre

He is regarded as the pioneer in breaking the rules of conventional, proscenium theatre to introduce folk forms and traditions into theatre. He believed and practiced that theatre of the people truly belonged to the villages and he succeeded in bringing this theatre to an urban, educated audience. The actors were a blend of folk performers of Chhatisgarh and urban actors.

Shoma A. Chatterji September 15, 2023

Personalities

Gulzar Weaves a Rich Tapestry of Human Relationships in His Films

Born in Dina (now in Pakistan) a part of Jhelum district in 1934, Gulzar imbibed his love for Urdu and poetry from his Urdu teacher in Delhi’s United Christian School “where Urdu was the medium of instruction till Independence.”

Shoma A. Chatterji August 18, 2023

Personalities

Meena Kumari: A Tragic and Successful Life

Her classic histrionic journey began with the musical love legend Baiju Bawra (1952) and also made her debut in two major advertisements. This was followed by the role of Lallita in Bimal Roy’s Parineeta (1953). Over her career, Meena Kumari bagged four Filmfare Awards in the Best Actress category.

Shoma A. Chatterji August 1, 2023

Feature

Death at Home in Exile: The Milan Kundera Saga

Kundera’s criticism of the Soviet invasion led to the banning of his books in the country. Subsequently, he was expelled from the communist party again for the second time in 1970. However, Kundera would not give up his critique of the system he could not reconcile with.

Sacaria Joseph July 18, 2023

Personalities

The Theme of Displacement in the Cinema of Bimal Roy

The concept of ‘homelessness’ described so lucidly by Ranjani Mazumdar her seminal essay does not apply to the “outsider” as interpreted in and through the characters in the cinema of Bimal Roy.

Shoma A. Chatterji July 12, 2023

Feature

Birth Anniversary Feature: Guru Dutt’s Works are Noted for Close-ups

Dutt’s early childhood was spent within the cramped space of a small flat in Matunga in Bombay (now Mumbai). His father shifted from one job to another, leaving the family in a perpetual state of economic instability.

Shoma A. Chatterji July 9, 2023

Ameen Sayani, Who United The Soul Of India

We Lost The Kohinoor Of Indian Radio: Mir Afsar Ali Pays Tribute To Ameen Sayani (1932-2024)

Habib Tanvir: The Man Who Introduced Folk Forms in Urban Theatre

Gulzar Weaves a Rich Tapestry of Human Relationships in His Films

Meena Kumari: A Tragic and Successful Life

Death at Home in Exile: The Milan Kundera Saga

The Theme of Displacement in the Cinema of Bimal Roy

Birth Anniversary Feature: Guru Dutt’s Works are Noted for Close-ups

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