Ishqiya will do good business.

Ishqiya will do good business.

Director Abhishek Chaubey had taken a risk in respect of directing a film involving three crooks. Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi had duped another crook. They had to leave the site and go and take shelter in some other person’s house.

They went and stayed in the house of a widow played by Vidya Balan. While staying with Vidya Balan, both Naseer and Arshad tried to impress her. The characteristics of Naseer and Arshad were not the same.

Naseeruddin Shah coloured his beard black to hide his age. But in terms of addressing his rivals, he never believed in surrendering before them if required. He was very straight forward and hardly compromised in situations which warranted such action. Arshad Warsi on the other hand used his wit to deal with situations.

Both had got impressed with Vidya Balan. Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah tried to create an impression before her in their own way. Both were rustic characters, so there was no show of decency from either of them. But Vidya Balan also understood their feelings.

Later on both realized that Vidya Balan was also a crook. The shooting done in the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh require special mention. The performances of Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan and Arshad Warsi were excellent. From the last Vidya Balan had matured into a very powerful character actress. She left from where she ended in Paa. The music of Vishal Bharadwaj was equally impressive.

The film has all the elements required for impressing the crowds. If a good film like A Wednesday was appreciated by the audience, there is no reason why Ishqiya should not do well. The viewers should watch the film.

Happy birthday to Urmila Matondkar.

Happy birthday to Urmila Matondkar.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy to Urmila Matondkar, one of the style icons of bollywood industry on 4th February, 2010. She had entertained the viewers over the last 15 years with her variety of performances.

She has been one of the main contributors of Ram Gopal Verma’s films. Most of his films had been related to supernatural power and horror subject matters. Urmila Matondkar had given spirited performances in those films and amused the viewers. Her performance in the film Bhoot meaning ghost requires special mention. She was tortured and ill-treated by a person and after the death of the soul, the unsatisfied spirits entered Urmila’s body and disclosed the truth relating to the sad event to the people at large. The horror, fear, anxiety, etc., were expressed by Urmila in style. The role was difficult to perform and Urmila did it in style.

Her comedy performance in films like Daud opposite Sanjay Dutt was also appreciated. The film was related to stealing of property and the chase relating to them by Paresh Rawal and his men. Apparently there was hardly any action but serious comedy all along the film where Urmila Matondkar and Sanjay Dutt complimented each other.

Urmila Matondkar acted in different types films. Films like Pinjar were made for the interest of serious viewers. While films like Rangeela addressed the common crowd. Urmila Matondkar exhibited her stylish andaz in the film opposite stalwarts like Amir Khan and Jackie Shroff. It was a superhit film and made Urmila Matondkar a leading star of bollywood.

Even in films where Urmila Matondkar had acted with ordinary make up, the story and her performance impressed the viewers. Films like Jungle being made with the background of Verappan’s jungle expeditions were admired by different sections of the viewers. Even her performance in the film Tehzeeb along with Shabana Azmi attracted the attention of intellectual audience. She had an abnormal sister and both Shabana Azmi and she herself treated her with care.

She received filmfare critics award for best actress in 2004 for her superlative performance in the film Bhoot. She also received starscreen award and Zee-cine awards for her powerful performance in Bhoot in 2004.

She also had done impressive item numbers in films like China Gate, Lajja, Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag, etc. In 2008 she played the challenging role in the film Karz, opposite Himesh Reshammiya, the same role which was played by Simi Garewal in Rishi Kapoor’s Karz. Although the film could not rise up to the expectation if compared with Subhash Ghai’s Karz, even then Urmila’s performance was appreciated. She did a great job in the film Judaai with Anil Kapoor and Sri Devi in the past.

The viewers expect her to continue the good work that she started from her childhood in films like Masoom, and contribute in bollywood films in future.

Happy birthday to Wahida Rehman.

Happy birthday to Wahida Rehman.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to legendary actress Wahida Rehman on 3rd February, 2010. She had played a marathon innings in bollywood films right from the 50s till today.

In the mid-50s, she cemented her position in bollywood films after giving hits after hits in Guru Dutt’s films. In CID, which was produced by Guru Dutt, she played the role of a seductive character who ultimately led to unfolding of truth relating to murder mystery. She acted opposite Dev Anand and balanced him with her powerful performance. In Pyasa, she played the role of a tawaif who gave shelter to Guru Dutt, an eminent poet in the film. The legendary pair was created in that film and songs like “jane kya” sung Geeta Dutt, “yeh mahalon yeh takhton” sung Rafi became evergreen hits.

Although Kagaz Ka Phool did not do well in the box-office, both Guru Dutt and Wahida Rehman received critical acclamation for their powerful performances in the film. Again hit songs like “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” sung by Geeta Dutt and “bichar gaya bari bari” sung by Rafi and composed by SD Burman became landmark songs of the period.

Chaudavi Ka Chaand, marked the most successful film depicting the romantic association of Wahida Rehman and Guru Dutt. Rafi’s song “chaudavi ka chaand” composed by Ravi was dedicated towards Wahida Rehman. The muslim pardanashin community was well depicted by Wahida Rehman in the film. She again did well in the film Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam opposite Meena Kumari and Guru Dutt. It was an adaptation of Uttam Kumar’s legendary Bengali film Saheb Bibi Ghulam directed by Karthik Chatterji. Wahida Rehman played the role of Jaba, which was played by Anubha Gupta in the Bengali film Saheb Bibi Ghulam.

All time great director Satyajit Ray experimented with Wahida Rehman in the role of a rural woman in the film Abhijan in the early 60s. Wahida Rehman’s broken Bengali having hindi accent attracted the attention of the intellectual viewers. In the 60s she transformed herself into a glamorous heroine.

Her second innings included hit films opposite Raj Kapoor like Ek Dil Sau Afsana, Teesri Kasam, superhit films opposite Dev Anand like Guide, Prem Pujari, and everlasting films opposite Dilip Kumar like Ram Aur Shyam, Aadmi, Dil Diya Dard Liya, to name a few. In Teesri Kasam, Wahida Rehman played the role of nautanki dancer who was attached to a cart driver played by Raj Kapoor.

The songs in these films composed by Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, SD Burman, etc. created history. The hit songs of Teesri Kasam included “o aa aa bhi jha”, “paan khai saiya”, “mare gaye gulfam”, the hit songs of Guide included “piya tose naina lagere”, “aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai”, the hit songs of Ram Aur Shyam included “aaye hai barahen meete zulmon sitam. Wahida Rehman’s dancing skills were also exhibited in these films.

She was even sublime in films like Mujhe Jeene Do, Reshma Aur Shera, opposite Sunil Dutt, Bees Saal Baad and Kohra, opposite Biswajeet, Neel Kamal opposite Raj Kumar, Dharti opposite Rajender Kumar, Patthar Ke Sanam opposite Manoj Kumar, to name a few.

Articles after articles can be devoted to the legendary actress who had same box-office popularity like that of legendary star Meena Kumari and Madhubala. Directors like Asit Sen experimented with her in the film Khamoshi, Gulzar experimented with her in the film Namkeen, Yash Chopra experimented with her in the film Kabhi Kabhi.

Viewers had seen her character acting in films like Mashal opposite Dilip Kumar in the 80s to Dilli 6, that was released in 2009. Increase in age had increased her variety of performance and she has been growing old gracefully. The viewers expect her to continue the monumental performances that she had been giving for the last 60 years. Viewers pay respect and regard to the living legend.