At 14, folk musician. At 26, member of the Army of Tripura
People's Liberation Organisation (ATPLO). Seventeen years later, winner of the Sangeet
Natak Akademi award. That's quite a CV, wouldn't you say? When Hemanta Jamatia,
former militant turned folk musician from Tripura, heard the news he could hardly believe
his ears. "The award was a huge surprise," he beams. "I never dreamt I
would get it." His story is the stuff that movies are made of. The 43-year-old, who
joined the ATPLO in 1980, says he was forced to take up arms because of disturbances in
his state. That's a thing of the past though. What will go down in history is his fusion
of folk music and modern sounds, set to lyrics in the local Kokborok language. And of
course there's the award which he will receive most probably from the President. Says
Jamatia: "I sing for the cause of peace." What better reason could there be?
'H' for Hit
Film people will do anything to grab attention. So it
seems with Kannada actor-director Upendra whose latest film is titled --
check this -- A. As in the letter A. This isn't a new eccentricity. He's also made Sh, O,
? (yes, just the symbol) and Om (starring real-life gangsters). Says the master of the
non-name: "The titles are meant to shock viewers." Into buying tickets, perhaps
-- Sh had a 100-day run, Om too was a hit. But he insists, "A has other connotations,
you know." Like what? Amazing? Astonishing? Arbitrary? Absurd? Shhhhh.
The Gentleman's Game
It happened one day. When cricketer Rahul Dravid met Vasanth
Raghuvir at a Bangalore shop, she told him of her son's physical disability. Dravid the
do-gooder invited them to a practice session, and there she met Anil Kumble.
Says Raghuvir, managing trustee, Shakti Foundation for the physically challenged: "He
seemed genuinely concerned." She was right. When she asked Kumble to do an
advertisement for wheelchair ramps in public places, the spin wizard readily agreed.
"Public buildings, malls, theatres, sports venues are not handicap friendly," he
says. "I am doing what little I can." This guy does as good as he looks.
God! She's Good
In the beginning was The Godfather. Now watch
out for Godmother. In her latest film (written and directed by Vinay Shukla),
actress-social activist Shabana Azmi plays a traditional rural housewife
forced by circumstances to turn to politics. The politics part at least is quite a
coincidence, considering that she's just been sworn in to the Rajya Sabha. Of course,
sometimes it's best that life does not imitate art. Because in the film, Azmi is at first
exploited by politicians, but is ultimately transformed into a corrupt
politician-cum-underworld-don. Says Shukla: "She (Azmi's character, sillies) becomes
an ambitious, power-manipulating woman, as wicked as it is possible to imagine."
Knowing Azmi, she'll do better than what "is possible to imagine". Here's the
lady who redefines realism, on the effect this role will have on her Rajya Sabha status:
"It could make things sticky, but I am an actor and I have to retain the freedom to
do what I wish to. I was put into the Rajya Sabha position because of what I've achieved
in the field of acting. I cannot sacrifice that." And no, you doubting devils, the
project was not conceived after her seat in the Upper House happened. It materialised late
last year. Is Shukla clairvoyant or what?.
At 14, folk musician. At 26, member of the Army of Tripura
People's Liberation Organisation (ATPLO). Seventeen years later, winner of the Sangeet
Natak Akademi award. That's quite a CV, wouldn't you say? When Hemanta Jamatia,
former militant turned folk musician from Tripura, heard the news he could hardly believe
his ears. "The award was a huge surprise," he beams. "I never dreamt I
would get it." His story is the stuff that movies are made of. The 43-year-old, who
joined the ATPLO in 1980, says he was forced to take up arms because of disturbances in
his state. That's a thing of the past though. What will go down in history is his fusion
of folk music and modern sounds, set to lyrics in the local Kokborok language. And of
course there's the award which he will receive most probably from the President. Says
Jamatia: "I sing for the cause of peace." What better reason could there be? 
Film people will do anything to grab attention. So it
seems with Kannada actor-director Upendra whose latest film is titled --
check this -- A. As in the letter A. This isn't a new eccentricity. He's also made Sh, O,
? (yes, just the symbol) and Om (starring real-life gangsters). Says the master of the
non-name: "The titles are meant to shock viewers." Into buying tickets, perhaps
-- Sh had a 100-day run, Om too was a hit. But he insists, "A has other connotations,
you know." Like what? Amazing? Astonishing? Arbitrary? Absurd? Shhhhh. 
It happened one day. When cricketer Rahul Dravid met Vasanth
Raghuvir at a Bangalore shop, she told him of her son's physical disability. Dravid the
do-gooder invited them to a practice session, and there she met Anil Kumble.
Says Raghuvir, managing trustee, Shakti Foundation for the physically challenged: "He
seemed genuinely concerned." She was right. When she asked Kumble to do an
advertisement for wheelchair ramps in public places, the spin wizard readily agreed.
"Public buildings, malls, theatres, sports venues are not handicap friendly," he
says. "I am doing what little I can." This guy does as good as he looks. 
In the beginning was The Godfather. Now watch
out for Godmother. In her latest film (written and directed by Vinay Shukla),
actress-social activist Shabana Azmi plays a traditional rural housewife
forced by circumstances to turn to politics. The politics part at least is quite a
coincidence, considering that she's just been sworn in to the Rajya Sabha. Of course,
sometimes it's best that life does not imitate art. Because in the film, Azmi is at first
exploited by politicians, but is ultimately transformed into a corrupt
politician-cum-underworld-don. Says Shukla: "She (Azmi's character, sillies) becomes
an ambitious, power-manipulating woman, as wicked as it is possible to imagine."
Knowing Azmi, she'll do better than what "is possible to imagine". Here's the
lady who redefines realism, on the effect this role will have on her Rajya Sabha status:
"It could make things sticky, but I am an actor and I have to retain the freedom to
do what I wish to. I was put into the Rajya Sabha position because of what I've achieved
in the field of acting. I cannot sacrifice that." And no, you doubting devils, the
project was not conceived after her seat in the Upper House happened. It materialised late
last year. Is Shukla clairvoyant or what?. 
