Andhranews

Raju Hirani’s Lage Raho Munnabhai has hit bull’s eye. After a long time, a movie has gone down well with the masses as well as critics. And this is the first time that a sequel scores over the original. “Creating something better than the original is a Herculean task, but director Raju Hirani succeeds at it,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

He continues, “He strikes a fine balance between humour and emotions. The comic portions are executed with panache, the drama is attention grabbing and the emotional quotient is strong enough to turn you moist-eyed. The marriage of humour and emotions as also technique and content is what drives the film to the winning post.”

Taran also points out the glitches saying, “Though minor, it is difficult to accept the transition of Munna from a common listener to a radio jockey. Also, his playing the role of a counsellor seemed a bit far fetched.” But Taran is quick to add, “However, one must add that despite this oddity, the sequences between Sanju and Jimmy-Parikshit Sahni, and also with Dia Mirza subsequently keep you glued to the screen, not as much for the writing, but due to Hirani’s master execution.”

Taran also points out glitches in portions post-interval. “Suddenly the film focuses on the Munna-Jhanvi love affair and you sorely miss the maddening conversation between Munna and Circuit. But Hirani’s execution scores here once again and you don’t mind this glitch,” he adds.

Elaborating further Taran said, “Hirani’s command over humour, drama and emotions is exemplary. Note the sequence when Munna slaps Circuit and tenders an apology after Mahatma Gandhi tells him to; it brings tears to your eyes instantly. The sequences between Munna and Circuit are, of course, the mainstay of the enterprise.

Some of the sequences like Munna readying to participate in the radio quiz, Munna-Jhanvi’s meet in the college campus or Munna-Circuit landing up behind bars are hilarious. Moreover, the entire track between the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Munna is exceptional. To his credit, Hirani treats the second instalment of the Munnabhai series with as much flourish as he treated the first.” “The film is a hit overseas too,” Taran informs. “As for Jaane Kya Hoga the distributors are in a state of ‘Jaane Kya Hoga’,” he concludes laughing.

Viviek Oberoi can’t stop grinning about what a great experience filming for Naksha was. “Naksha is all set for release and I am happy for my friend Sachin Bajaj, who is making his debut as a director,” he says. Viviek, it is learnt, had a hilarious time playing pranks on Sachin. He says, “Sachin wanted me to colour my hair a shade of golden-brown for the role. I agreed, but on the condition that he would also colour his hair along with me.

At first he was shocked but I said it so seriously, that he agreed to it. I immediately rushed to the parlour with him and both of us sat and got our hair coloured. Before I could get my hair coloured, I winked at the saloon guy. My hair was washed and Bajaj found it to be good. But when he washed his hair he was stunned to see it going blonde. I consoled him by saying that the colour will lessen with another wash. But all in vain. Finally he went and got it coloured back to the original shade.”

Lyricist-writer Gulzar pays a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who died recently

He was the champion of the middle-class. He observed the changing ethos in the Indian middle class life and managed to weave it into celluloid. His movies like Musafir, Ashirwad, Guddi, Chupke Chupke, Khoobsurat depict the cinema that was synonymous with sensitivities portrayed on screen.

Hrishida had a knack of mixing both humour and wit in proper proportion with gentle sentiments. Most of his movies are humorous, but you can’t label them as comedies. They make you laugh and cry at the same time. Though his cinema was thoroughly intellectual, he created ample scope for music and songs in his flicks and proved that serious cinema doesn’t mean a drama sans song and dance.

Actually, the cinema of Hrishikesh Mukherjee was the legacy of Bimal Roy, his mentor. Bimalda set the trend of taking up a serious note of social life in India in popular Hindi cinema with films like Do Bigha Zameen, Sujaata and Bandini. All his disciples — Hrishida, Basu Bhattacharya and me have tried to keep that torch alive. Bimal Roy also enlivened the literature of the time in his movies. All his major works are based on the writings of some famous writers. Hrishida maintained the tradition of his teacher.

For me Bimalda was like the principal and Hrishida, the headmaster of the same school. The absence of both is Ustad Khaliyast (teacher’s space left vacant).

Paris Hilton was seen sobbing in the streets of New York last week after being turned away from a nightclub. The hotel heiress, who recently said she only goes out partying because she is paid to, was turned away from exclusive nightspot Bungalow 8 recently after security told her it was “full to capacity.” An eyewitness told Life and Style Weekly magazine, “She was sobbing and kept saying she was Paris Hilton and all she wanted to do was dance.” After being refused entry to the club, Paris, her entourage and rumoured boyfriend Brandon Davis decided to try a few other clubs, but the police told her the entire street was being closed off due to overcrowding, so her limousine was not allowed through.

Paris’ embarrassing snub came just a day after she was unable to attend two MTV Music Video Awards pre-parties. The socialite-turned-singer had hoped to attend Diddy’s bash at Bungalow 8 as well as another warm-up party, but the police closed the New York street where the club is located to all vehicles, and despite Paris’ protests, would not give her access.

Eva Longoria is addicted to facials. The Desperate Housewives star says that the beauty treatment is one of the few vices she allows herself, as well as shoes. She confessed to the Western Mail newspaper, “I love facials, I’m a spa junkie. I love massages and scrubs and I am obsessed with shoes. I do pinch myself when I see how many pairs of shoes I have. My boyfriend Tony can’t believe it.”

Eva has also lifted the lid on her strict fitness regime. The brunette actress works out every day with a personal trainer and sticks to a specific healthy eating plan. She revealed, “I have a trainer. I train every day, but I get really bored really easily so we do weight training, balance training, core training, jump rope, everything. I have to eat healthily, but I’m lucky in that I love eating fish and vegetables.”

Britney Spears’ half-eaten sandwich has sold for over $500 in an Internet auction. The seller, who goes by the username of “derrickito”, posted the egg salad sandwich on the Australian version of eBay along with a corn dog supposedly nibbled by the pop star’s husband Kevin Federline. Forty-three bids were placed for the vacuum-sealed savoury treats before online gaming company Golden Palace Casino purchased both items for 520 Australian dollars.

A spokesman for the company, which already owns an interesting collection of Britney “memorabilia”, said, “With her saliva and urine already securely in their possession, the casino might even by able to clone Britney pretty soon.” “Derrickito” claims to have been working as a waiter at a music awards ceremony at a “fancy schmancy” New York hotel when he swiped the goodies. The quick-thinking seller then carefully packaged the leftovers and posted them on eBay.

“Derrickito” explains Britney ate one half of her “egg salad sandwich with tomato and lettuce on wheat bread” and took a couple of bites from the other half. He added, “Kevin Federline had a few things to eat that night, but the only leftover item I managed to pick up from him was a corn dog. Later, I went to clear their plates with it, and as I was picking up the plate Britney picked it up really quick, giggled, and said, “I can’t let that go to waste’ and quickly took a big bite off of the stick end of the corn dog.”