Bhawana Somaaya

Every year, Lata Mangeshkar pleads with the nation that she does not want celebrations on her birthday and yet year after year, the country thinks of new ways of rejoicing the special day. This September 28 she completed 80 glorious years and radio and television went hysterical hosting all kinds of shows on her career. Young radio jockeys who know nothing about the songstress made juicy stories about her personal life made authoritative statements. It was pathetic. Is this the way you pay tribute to someone of her caliber? The only show worth watching was her interview with Javed Akhtar on CNNIBN. Saregama paid a tribute to the living legend with a collection of eight CDs of her immortal songs. Titled 80 Glorious Years of Lata Mangeshkar: Safalta Ki Shikhar Par Kal Bhi … Aaj Bhi the album comprises her chartbusters spanning six decades. From ‘Jiya beqarar hai…’/Barsaat (1949), Lara lappa lara lappa laai…/ Ek thi Ladki (1950), Inhi logon ne…/Pakeezah (1971), Pyaar kiya to darna kya…/Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Bindiya chamkegi…/Do Raste (1969), Dekha ek khwab…/ Silsila (1981) and Chudiyaan khanak gayi… /Lamhe (1991) to Kucch na kaho…/1942-Love Story (1994). It is an immortal album and contains rare photographs of the songstress over the decades. The collection apart from the rare photographs has a personal tribute from Yash Chopra who shares a special with the Nightingale. May you live to be a 100 years Lata didi, you are the most valued treasure of the country.
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Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker is an angry man and he is justified. The film industry has been fighting the menace of video piracy for so long but somehow, the problem does not seem to end. The Mumbai Police is on the hunt for a major player in the racket who is suspected to have links with the underworld gang and in the meantime Chaudhary, a key player in the racket has made certain confessions. The price of pirated DVDs is jointly decided by the film suppliers and distributors and it is determined on the number of copies produced. Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has reportedly sought Rs 50crore in damages from UFO Moviez besides sending a legal notice to the firm for leaking DVDs of his recently released film. It was high time somebody took a stern action and let’s hope others learn from his experience.
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Celebrity endorsement creates instant recall and it is the easiest way to reach out to the masses. That is why so many corporate look for film stars to endorse their products. The latest to do it is an insurance company. They have signed Amitabh Bachchan and only because he was called Vijay in many of his movies. Vijay as we all know means victory and he exemplified the underdog who conquered his underprivileged circumstances and emerged the winner. It’s a curious coincidence that the megastar has been appointed the brand ambassador for an insurance product called Max Vijay, a product targeting the lower income group.
Max Vijay is a low premium policy, which will help the common man to make small investments and achieve his dream. In all his films Vijay always emerged triumphant, something similar will happen in real life too.

And before I sign off some vibrant views shared by my niece Piya Thakkar who is a complete coffee addict.

Wild wild West!!
With the advent of the coffee house culture in India, influenced greatly by the likes of Starbucks Corporation, everyone was relieved to have our own chain of Barrista, Café Coffe Day, Mocha and now Costa Coffee. Finally coffee lovers had easy access to the Latte’s, Expresso and Mocha’s with the works. These places did quickly manage to serve as a place for people to jus meet, hangout, read, work or study (the main attraction being the cozy plush couches and sit-outs). However, they never managed to evolve to serve the efficient “Coffee to go” purpose, they usually cater to the world over where, these places have managed (much due to their efficiency and quick preparation time) to become an integral part of people’s routine! I guess this is where our chaiwala still rules, now partially taken over by the vending machine.

I was watching MTV today after the rain ruined the India v/s Australia Match for us, and I told myself whatever happened to the days MTV and channel V broadcasted music videos and the top 20 countdown etc. All we have today are tons of Reality Shows (a western influence again) and competitions/ challenges all over the TV let alone music channels. However, the new show Rock On, I have to admit, has some amazing bands and talent, and much to my surprise, I was totally loving it !
Now that is entertainment!!

It is always interesting to attend a book launch particularly when it involves a legend because during the event there is always a magical moment that provides a rare insight into the icon.

A fortnight ago Niyogi Publishers released their new book Lata Mangeshkar…in her own voice. Many years ago I had attended her earlier book release by Harish Bhimani and in 2006 contributed a chapter on her in The Iconic Women of Modern India by Penguine Books.

There are some people the more you read and write about them the more curious about them and Lata Mangeshkar is amongst them. Somehow the more you know about her the heart craves for more.

It was a special evening at May Fair Gardens when Chief Guest Javed Akhtar walked to the podium to speak about the Nightingale. He said it is the easiest and also the most difficult to speak about someone as prolific and popular as Lata Mangeshkar. “As a country we should value our legends while they are living. The Govt of India should have instituted a museum in her honour and the World Space in all fairness should have been called Lata Channel.” There was a round of applause.

Through all the flattering speeches Lata sat demurely eyes down cast and when the word flow stopped folded her hands in a namaskar to all.

At the end of the function there was a Question-Answer with the media and Lata proved that at 80 plus she retains her presence of mind. When a journalist asked her who out of the many actresses she had lent her voice to would she credit for the best projection, it didn’t take Lata a minute to respond, ‘Bohat saare hai aur unme se do hamare beech mein hai..’hinting to Jaya Bachchan and Waheeda Rehman in the audience.

Bhawana Somaaya