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• Too many biopics theStack SINGING SUCCESS OF

these days: Deepika INDIA’S PROGRESS
LIKE A BIRD ON THE WIRE
Story 1947-2017 is a tribute to the country’s 71 years
By Chhavi Bhardwaj; Amaryllis The 71 chapters of the book Note by Note: The India
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, who was of independence and achievements
last seen in Padmaavat, has said that there are too Nethra Kaul is sharp, efficient, beautiful and single. A quintessential THE STORY of India, over the past seven decades,
“good girl”, she believes in doing the ‘right thing’, always. Only, her
many biopics being made and she cannot count • Bhumi gets role life isn’t all that right. A broken heart? Check. Misfit has been one of development and social and
the amount of biopics being offered to them as in Karan’s movie at work? Double-check. Hopeless romanticism? Not political change, which has often been forgotten,
actors. “I feel like there are too many biopics Bagging a Karan Johar enough checks in the world! Avinash Rathore, her pushed to the recesses of our memories. Ankur,
being made. In the last few months, I can’t count directorial so early in her batchmate from the IAS, is the man she had loved and Seema and Sushant refresh those memories in
the number of biopics that we’ve been offered. career was a dream come wanted, very much. Avinash is a high-flyer and his Note by Note, linking the events of each year to a
And they’re all great; they’re very strong and true for Bhumi Pednekar who life looks picture perfect at the moment — a soaring significant film song.
powerful. But when it comes to a film, after a believes it’s a big opportunity career, a lovely wife and a beautiful child. What more For in a country that has a song for every
point, how much are you going to tell me about to be a part of his next Takht. could he possibly want? What more, other than the season, every emotion, nothing qualifies as much
as the film song to be a metaphor for the nation.
intense, sublime love that had once blossomed in the
those struggles? Even a common man on the Directed by Johar, Takht also salubrious environs of Mussoorie, where Nethra and The Hindi film song has uncannily encapsulated
street has had a similar journey, if you ask me,” stars Kareena Kapoor, Ran- Avinash had trained as probationers? The tentacles the sentiment of its era, reflecting, as well as
the actress was quoted as saying in an interview. veer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Vicky of fate are closing in fast as Nethra and Avinash come together, one forming, the consciousness of the country s iden-
Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and
Biopics such as PadMan, Sanju and Soorma have Anil Kapoor. “It was a dream more time, for something that will prove to be as disastrous as it is tity and mood.
hit the screens in the recent past. Among the come true. I didn’t expect enticing. From the afsana the country was articulating
films that have already been announced, we to bag a Karan Johar film so -------------------------------------------------------------------------- in Afsana likh rahee hoon,
are yet to watch Manikarnika, Super 30, the soon in my career. I always even as Jawaharlal Nehru
Abhinav Bindra biopic and Shakeela among hoped I would work with THE BEGUMS OF PESHAWAR gave voice to India s tryst
many others. Sanju has broken many records him, he’s a prolific filmmaker. By Najma Yusufi; Hachette India with destiny, to the mood
of socialist India in Awara
and one can assume that this is certainly a He has really changed the In the old city of Peshawar, past the busy markets of Munda Beri, live hoon, to the political and
signal for many new biopics as well. Deepika game. “He has a great vision. the Durranis. Descendants of the men who once ruled Afghanistan, social unrest of the 1970s
I was surprised when it hap-
started 2018 with a bang as her film pened... I immediately told they now survive on the trappings of former glory. Here, the Durrani as reflected in Zindagi
Padmaavat, despite being released amid my parents,” a PTI report daughters — vain, clever Maagul; quiet, dutiful Bibig- kaisi yeh paheli hai, to the
much controversy, managed to impress quoted Bhumi as saying. ul; knowledge-hungry Chan; and shy, overshadowed dreams of a new and young
the audience. Deepika was all set to Takht is set in Mughal era Firasat — live through loves and disappointments, India, it is all here.
share screen space with Piku co- and chronicles the story of marriages and heartbreak, and the trials they face as A tribute to India and
star Irrfan Khan in Vishal two warring brothers. While women growing up and settling down in conservative the exceptional republic
Bhardwaj’s next, but due Bhumi is tight-lipped about households. Alongside their stories is that of Bano, that it has been, Note by
Note captures the rhythm
the servant girl, who offers a startlingly different view
to Irrfan’s health, her role, the star is happy that of their lives, alive with the sights and sounds of a of modern Indian history
the films she’s doing align
the film has been with her sensibilities. world beyond the confines of the sisters’ cloistered to the beat of popular film music. The book has
postponed for now. existence. Moving effortlessly from Peshawar to many popular Hindi film songs populating its
Lahore and on to London, the narrative beautifully pages, interwoven with the story of Independent
portrays the Durrani girls’ small rebellions against India. Whether it’s an upbeat “Gore gore, o banke
the forces that have long oppressed them: the bonds of tradition chhore” of 1950, or a “Papa kehte hain bada naam
karega” laden with the youthful energy of the
and the weight of an inherited name.
• HILARY SWANK WEDS BOYFRIEND COMMODIFICATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1980s, or even a more sombre “Aye mere pyare
watan” from the early 1960s, “Note by Note: The
THE OSCAR WINNER TIES THE KNOT IN A ROMANTIC SECRET CEREMONY OF WOMEN STILL HANDWRITTEN LETTERS IN THE BOOKSTORE India Story 1947-2017” encapsulates the country’s
Hilary Swank has tied the knot with en- By Rimple; Owlery story since its birth using popular Hindi songs.
trepreneur boyfriend Philip Schneider in a PERSISTS’ It weaves a melodious narrative right from her
romantic secret ceremony. The Oscar winner Successful and celebrated entrepreneur Rajvir leads a monotonous cradle to the wars she fought, and takes the read-
made things official with Schneider after they life. Breaking out of the routine one day, he stops at a bookstore ers on a journey through the troughs and crests
were first spotted together in November 2016. and finds a handwritten note in a book. This letter of democracy, ultimately leading to the India that
According to Vogue magazine, the wedding leads him to a series of other similar letters and, fi- is today. But calling it an anthology of the best
took place in the Redwoods in California. The nally, to the person who writes them. The letter-writer, Hindi songs would be selling it short. The book’s
Oscar winner opened up about her about her discovers Rajvir, is a young woman, though her iden- 71 chapters speak about the 71 years of independ-
husband and their wedding. “It was timeless. tity is a mystery. He soon begins a virtual relationship ence. It offers to bring to the surface forgotten
There is just no other way to describe it. I was with her, via chat and mail. Rajvir hits upon a new memories of the Indian story — one year, and
overwhelmed with such gratitude and thanks business idea from his interactions with her. Enter one song at a time. As filmmaker Shyam Benegal
to be marrying the man of my dreams and to Taashvi, who he ropes in as a partner in the new busi- points out in his four-paragraph foreword, the
see all the people we love together in the mid- ness. Rajvir and the letter-writer relive their childhood Hindi film song has been used as “punctuations
dle of such a profound setting. It was truly a Huma Qureshi as they converse about everything they love. As Rajvir between scenes and sequences; to highlight or to
• Knotty affair Marrying the dream man dream come true,” Swank said. (In an interview) transforms, Taashvi becomes his new friend. anticipate a turn in the plot”.

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