Three-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej says Trevor Noah should have done “soundcheck and venue recce” before Bengaluru show
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Comedian-writer Trevor Noah bid adieu to India after successful gigs in Mumbai and Delhi. “India. What an experience it was coming and performing in your country for the first time. Thank you for sharing your rich history, your delicious cuisine and your fantastic arguments with me. Thank you to everyone who came out to the shows in Delhi and Mumbai because you made it truly unforgettable,” shared Noah, whose sets were received with much acclaim by the audience.
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A subject that continued to serve as fodder for social media users, however, was Noah’s cancelled Bengaluru sets, which invited polarised reactions. While some believed that the events that led to the cancellation were beyond the comedian’s control, others suggested that Noah should have done his due diligence before the audience turned up to watch him. Three-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej suggested that organisers BookMyShow should sue Noah, asserting that “soundcheck and venue recce” are things that “every responsible and caring artiste carries out before a show”.
Kej shared: “If Trevor Noah really bothered about his ticket-purchasing fans, then he would have made it a point to arrive earlier in the day or previous night and personally carried out a reconnaissance of the venue, tested out his microphone and ensured that the sound was optimum. When Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Iron Maiden, Bryan Adams, Metallica, Symphony Orchestras, and Russel Peters have had super successful events in Bengaluru, why is Bengaluru being trashed now?” Noah had spoken about the poor venue conditions in Bengaluru during his Mumbai set, and also asserted that he would return to the city for another show in the future. Several audience members had travelled from different states to watch him.
Bidding adieu
Rupali Ganguly penned a heart-warming note for her Anupamaa co-star Sagar Parekh as the latter’s character Samar was written off the show. She shared their pictures on social media and wrote: “One of the most beautiful mother-son bonds created on television. The very first relationship I connected to, because that was the first promo I shot. The scenes we have done in the last few days have delightfully surprised me,” she shared. The role of Samar was previously played by Paras Kalnawat. Parekh took over after the latter’s infamous departure from the show. Parekh will next be seen in Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan.
Birthday gift
On his birthday yesterday, Shabana Azmi recounted an old story of acclaimed screenwriter, and poet Javed Akhtar from his early days in the industry. Detailing her husband’s struggles, she said that the writer arrived in Mumbai with 27 paisa in his pocket and only had a heart full of dreams and determination, which eventually saw him through and made him successful. She shared, “On October 4, 1964, a young man arrived at Bombay Central Station with 27 naya paisa in his pocket and a heart full of dreams. And then, life happened. He slept at railway stations and footpaths, went without food for days, but his belief in himself was his constant companion. His talent, his resilience, his determination, his spirit and the support of his friends made him the man he is today.”
Some more coffee
Karan Johar announced that the eighth season of the celebrity chat show, Koffee with Karan, will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on October 26. The filmmaker, who has been hosting the show since its inception in 2004, shared the news on Instagram along with an announcement video. “Turns out, my own Konscience wants to troll me too! But screw what he thinks, I’m still brewing Season 8 (sic)!”
Double celebration
Devara, starring Jr NTR, will be released in two parts, director Koratala Siva said. Billed as a high-octane action drama set in the forgotten coastal lands of India, the Telugu film also features Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor. The first part will hit screens on April 5, 2024. In a video shared online, the makers said they decided to release the film in two parts as the canvas had become “too big” for the story to be narrated well in one film.
OTT already
Less than two months after it hit screens, Sunny Deol-starrer Gadar 2 will start streaming online. ZEE5 announced yesterday that the film will stream from tomorrow onwards. Directed by Anil Sharma, the film sees Deol reprise his role of Tara Singh from 2001’s Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. The movie also features Ameesha Patel as Sakeena, and Sharma’s son Utkarsh as Charanjeet.
Raring to go
“I’m ready and raring to go again,” says Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, adding that she hopes to explore the web space in the future. The actor, who took a break from work after the birth of her son Vayu in August 2022, said she is inspired by the work of her father Anil Kapoor in the series, The Night Manager. “I got pregnant at the tail end of COVID-19 and I’ve always said that I will take time off [from work]. It was maternity leave, which every woman and man should get. I spent time with my baby. Now, I’m ready and raring to go again,” she said.