Page & <� TH1E CANADIAN CNBXA TIMES - ^oj^y
ftAGULA BHAGAT (Hindi)
Directed by Hartneah Malheitoa
produced by Gain Slppy
The huge success of Victoria! N�* 303 started a new trend: take up a crime theme, bring in two crazy characters to turn it into a loony mess, make them do all sort� of singing, dancing and prancing, reduce the; lead pair of heroine and hero to side characters, and you have a sure winner. Victoria No. 203 proved this. If its follow-up Oborl Mera Katm was not as great a success, in spite of ithfc fact that it had a better looking pair in the lead (Shashi Xapoor and Xeenat Aman), the reason was that it had only one loony Character!. ." :*
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When Ashok Kumar and Pran, the two stalwart-character artists of the Indian cinema," were paired together as loony characters in Victoria No. 203, they created a laugh riot - by their antics and. tomfoolery. People went again and again, to.watch their crazy cavalcade of sense and nonsense, less for beautiful Saira Banu and still less for its story and direction. In Chorl Mera Kaam Ashok Kumai single-handedly could not achieve those comic results Which he did in the company of Pran in Victoria No. 203.
Going by the first half, it looks as if Bagula Bhagat is a film of Shatrughan Sinha* for Shatrughan Sin ha, by Shatrughan Singh. He dominates it - to display his screen image of a tough guy. reyc'Uirig in risks. In order to "collcc? a huge sum to build a
school for thfc poor anq aedicate it to his mother,, he graduates from a small tim4r to a big criminal. But when he falls roul of the criminal smugglers by not delivering 44the goods," he finds himself in danger. "The goods1' is a jail bird for whose safe delivery Shatrughan Sinha is paid the4 huge money meant for the school. And When the jail bird is none else ' but Ashok Kumar, crazy things start happening.. A: few twists ajnd turps - the jail bird is Shatrughan Sinha's real father supposed Jo have been dead -make the happenings livelier. Ashok Kumar has not yet played as eccentric a character as he does in Baknla Bhagat. An artist of Ashok ICumar's stature inspires great respect but when he takes to looky, comic roles, he can inspire great mirth also, that's precisely What Ashok Kumar does here. Especially, when he makes Anwar Husiari'S boss of the criminal eang dance to his tune, iterally. l^nd when Ashok Kimar takes over; everybody is relegated to the second position. >v
Bravado (and BraggaddOcio are Shatrughan Sinha's screen characteristics and he repeats them here ad nauseam. Shabana Azma tries"? to imitate film heroines, without having their figure or sensuality: Padma Khanna is the smugglers* moll and does a sizzling cabaret number. The helplessness of Anwar Musain's gang boss is to be seen to be believed. ,\' Kamini KaiishaTs mother is as much sympathy-evoking, * as traditional- Indian mothers are. � --x/^;
Harmesli Malhotra, who specialised in action and stunt movies, has done a good job; of this
Miss India is
star
By Dolores Barclay
New York - She never had acting lessons, carries a shrine filled with pictures of gods everywhere she goes and went bald for her latest film yole. But Persis Khambatta says she's just an old-fashioned gal.
� * When I left India 10 years ago, I took India with me," Khambatta said. 44 My values are still the same. Fidelity is important.
6i still feel it's a man's world and the man has to chase a woman ,,T she said. 441 don *t feel sex is better than breakfast and you can sleep around anytime. Relationships are more important to me."
Even though, she said; "this business is constantly who you
know and what your bank account
,as.
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serio-comic action thriller. Kal-I yanji-Anandji have composed a few nazama in as free style as they are written by Anjaan. K H Kapadia's cinematography may not be in top grade but it serves the style and grade of the film. I
Screenplay writers these days leave many crucial things unstaj ted and unexplained. Even if such important points; are not properly presented on the screen] people, in search of entertain) ment, ignore them. We are hinting at Ashok Kumar's escape from jail in the Company of Shatrughan; Sinha. These slips don't fall in the category of dramatic licence, do they? ;
"Right now, there's a lot of frustration,** she said. ' 'I'm sort of being pushed into a corner where people want me to change. They can't deal with fidelity and sensitivity and honesty. But if I become tough, I'm going to hate myself."
Khambatta, a former Miss India, shaved her head.for the role of Ilia in Star Trek, The Motion Picture. Her hair has since grown out in all it's thick, dark richness.
i4I love acting," she said, 4 * because I feel one is made of a lot of personalities. One day I hope as an actress I will be able to express my soul to people. When I can touch people's souls and make them laugh 1 will feel good."
It was while making the film The WUby Conspiracy with Sidney Poitier that he told her she was 4 *an instinctive actress": - a performer who could do the work without ever really studying the craft. .
Khambatta said she feels more secure with camera work than with stage work.
*4! know this was my destiny and I know I have further to go," she said. 441 like challenges. I've taken a chance every time - when I went to London, when I went to New York."
She started modelling in India
when she was 13. But at age 17, she left with less than $15 and went to London to pursue her career. Although this was unusual for a young; Indian woman, Khambatta nevertheless had the support of her family.
it,
Growing up in India was difficult for me because my parents were separated when 1 was two."
SCOPE FOR FILM EXPORT
New Delhi (IBS) - Indian feature film export touched a peak and earned Rs 12.75 crores during 1978-79. The main reasons for this were the multi-starrers which fetched tremendous returns from the Gulf countries, where they are popular.
Exports of feature films could be scientifically increased, if proper encouragement is given and some hurdles being felt by exporters {are - removed now. A working group of the national film policy is being set up by the Government to study the question.
I Export formalities should be rationalised, and Reserve Bank [formalities reduced to a minimum. A separate censorship is also sought for films going outy as foreign standards have a more liberal or stricter censorship board. Also, the system of giving prints on a quota have to be scrapped, while festivals should have a lot more colour and glamour, which wouId help sell the films in the international market finally. *
Clearing snow from ourhighways can be a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week job for the mei^who tove the province's snow plows. .' ... yx:-�� ;
They work in the worst kind of driving conditions so people and products can keep mo^Hrig across province, even in the W0rst winter weather.? .l- V-v
As soonasyou see ih^e snow plow's blue light slow down. patient-
don't try to pass: thafs dangerous
Get
Help them do their job. j Then do your part: be extra adjust yours tactics to suit weather and road conditions.
James Snow; | Minister of Transportation and Cpmmunic^tionb
William Davis, Premfer
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booklet "Defensive Xpert advice on iree wav and dav/niejit
Information Branch
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Communications 1201 Wilsoti Ave. ISovyns^^
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racial slur
Milton, Ont. - After being constant victim of racial abu during 14 yeari as a Halt Regional policeman. Constat Ayodhya Prasad momentarily 1< control when he slapped a ms Provincial Court was told yest day.
The 36-year-old native Guyana was given an absoli discharge yesterday after pies ing guilty to common assault.
Constable Prasad was *4 acting a person, not as a police office when he slapped Donald Gord Harding of Acton across the h while on duty in the town Halton Hills on Sept. 25, constable's lawyer; John Bel ghem, told the court.
Full time di for i^ACOI
Applications from Uhivers Graduates with experience community work are invited the position of Executive Direc for the National Headquarters Ottawa. The successful candid will undertake programs i activities designed to achieve aims and objectives of the NAC under the direction of the NAC
DE
DHYAN CHAND
New Delhi (TBS) - The Grand ( Man of Indian hockey is no mo
The man who brought to hock an artistic wizardy yet unmatch in the history of the gan breathed his last at 4.25 Dece ber 3 morning at the All In< Institute of Medical Science, N Delhi.
The momenjL the news was he on AIR's 8 a.m. bulletin a stre of hockey lovers started pour into the Medical Institute to h the last 4darshan*; of ther gi sportsman who gave so much Indian hockey.
What Pele is to football, Dh was to hockey. There might many Peles in countries outs Brazil, but Dhyan Chand was only one of his kind in the wh world.
The 4wizard* who gave his wh life for hockey, earned a r distinction when like him, younger son, Ashok Kumar v also given the honour of lead the country during the in national hockey tournament Perth this year.
There are instances bei where a father and son had played for their country; but is the only instance where fat and son, through their si merit, won Jthe distinction] leading a national team on field.
The instance, is cricket, wl the Nawab of Patudi - senior junior - captained the In< cricket does not qualify for distinction because the apj ment of the Senior Nawal captain was more of a polij nature.
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VETERAN JOURNALIST
Calcutta, Jan. 7 (UNI) Su< shu Kumar Basu, editor of local eveninger, Hindustan Si dard, died of cancerv at residence December 16. He 67.
An eminent journalist facile pen, Mr. Basu cov< variety of subjects ranging politics to cricket.
Mr. Basu started life teacher in the Vidyasagar ( e^e, and later left teaching joined the Hindustan " ~ assistant editor in the