Megastar Amitabh Bachchan took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday morning to remember his mother, Teji Bachchan. It's her 17th death anniversary and the megastar shared an unseen picture of hers in her remembrance. Amitabh took to his blog and X handle, where he shared an unseen picture of his mother, who passed away in 2007. For the caption, he wrote, “Today the 21st of December: In remembrance… right before my eyes , each moment of each day.” T 5230 - माँ pic.twitter.com/6uueZRR5Ri — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 20, 2024 Teji Bachchan, who was the wife of late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, passed away on December 21, 2007, due to prolonged illness at the age of 93. Teji Bachchan and Harivansh Rai Bachchan got married in Allahabad in 1941, and upon her wedding, Teji became a homemaker. They had two sons, Amitabh and Ajitabh Bachchan.W When Bachchan recalled his final moments with his mother Back in 2017, Bachchan spoke about his final moments with his mother in his blog. "As she struggled to beat the heart rate monitor, valiant attempts made by the doctors in attendance, in the process of revival, were being conducted. The heart was responding intermittently her frail body," Amitabh had then written on his blog. He added, “The force filled hand pumping on her chest by burly hands, were hurting for me to witness. The machine had given up, the revivalists were changing hands. The life of mother would stop for a while and then come back again.” He had shared that the pumping manually continued with greater strength. The thespian had added that it became unbearable for him. "We stood holding hands with each other and watched her go," he added. Amitabh Bachchan on his granddaughter's performance The senior actor along with his son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter-in-law attended the school annual day function of his granddaughter Aaradhya. Taking to his blog, Big B wrote about the performance. “Children .. their innocence and desire to be at their best in the presence of parents .. such a delight .. and when they are in the company of thousands performing for you .. it is the most exhilarating experience ..Today was one such ..," he wrote. (with inputs from IANS)
21 December,2024 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent'Welcome' actor Mushtaq Khan made his first public appearance days after he made news for his kidnapping. The actor claimed he was kidnapped when he went to Delhi from Mumbai to attend an event. The incident took place on November 20. He managed to flee from his captors and informed the police. On Friday evening, the actor was seen at the premiere of Anil Sharma's directorial 'Vanvaas'. Khan arrived in a simple shirt and jeans for the screening of the film 'Vanvaas' that stars Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma in the lead. He posed for the paparazzi before stepping into the venue. About Mushtaq Khan's kidnapping The 54-year-old recalled the horrific incident when he was invited to a fake event in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on November 20. Recounting the ordeal in his Jogeshwari studio in Mumbai, he said, “I was given an advance amount and sent flight tickets, so it seemed convincing. I was told to attend an awards function as chief guest. I spoke to Sunil Pal (comedian-actor) he said something similar had happened with him as well.” Khan added, “I fell for it without verifying because we artists ask them the budget and the advance amount is transferred as an assurance.” He said that he was taking a car to Meerut from Delhi airport and then to Bijnor. “When two people held me at gunpoint, I knew this was serious. This happened in Meerut after they switched cars.” Talking about his escape, Khan fled when his kidnappers were fast asleep. He heard the sound of azaan at 5.45 am which prompted him to go to the nearest mosque. "They even transferred ₹1.24 lakh from my bank account and ₹1.06 lakh from my son’s account for their expenses," he said. Khan’s son Mohsin said, “After a local family took him from the mosque to their place, my father began making phone calls. In Bijnor, a family friend came to pick him up from Ghaziabad. We were contemplating registering an FIR, thinking they would harm him. He opened the latch, climbed down two floors, and escaped. He heard the azaan call and asked for the nearest masjid.” So far six people have been arrested in the case.
21 December,2024 09:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Ameesha Patel was last seen on the big screen in the 2023 film 'Gadar 2' where she reprised the role of Sakina opposite Sunny Deol's Tara Singh. The film was directed by Anil Sharma and also starred his son Utkarsh Sharma as Sakina and Tara Singh's child. Patel has once again stirred discussions by responding to her director who suggested she should embrace the age progression of her character by playing a mother-in-law. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Anil Sharma revealed that Patel resisted playing mother-in-law on screen during 'Gadar 2' . He also gave the example of the late Nargis Dutt playing a mother in Mother India at a very young age. Patel took to her X handle to respond to his comment on accepting age progression in films. " I feel u have mistaken the story and climax shot by u only in gadar 2 sakina is only a mother to jeetey as she was 23 years ago in gadar 1 and a wife to her lovely tara.. sakina is surely not a mother in law to anyone and will never be," she wrote. She further said that she would not play the role even for a fee of Rs 100 cr. "Dear @Anilsharma_dir dear anilji . This is only a film and not a reality of some family so on screen I do have a say as to what I want to do and not do 🩷respect u loads but will never play a mother in-law for gadar or any film even if paid 100 crores". @Anilsharma_dir super proud to be jeeteys mom but it shall end at that only and that too only for gadar brand 🙏🏻never a mother in law in this life time even I get paid 100 crores 😀🙏🏻🩷massive respect for u and u are family to me but pls rectify this thought process 🩷 pic.twitter.com/5uQzLqDjCd — ameesha patel (@ameesha_patel) December 20, 2024 She further said that the film was always about three characters- Tara, Sakina and their son. "So glad MR NITIN KENNY chose me to play sakinas character and to play my lovely TARAS wife and ofcourse jeeteys mom.: but for me gadar brand is and always will be about us 3 only kya karoon .: Possesive maa hoon," she tweeted. The actress also said that fans do not wish to see her and Sunny Deol play parents-in-law on screen. "Fans don’t want to see Tara Sakina as father in laws and mother in laws they love their Tara being a hero and a super hero only and so do I 🩷and wishing u the best for vanvaas today . May u always shine it’s a important day for u and I pray best for u," she added.
21 December,2024 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPayal Kapadia's film 'All We Imagine As Light' has been the rage all year. After winning the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, the movie set in Mumbai has been making international waves. Now, the films has earned the top spot in former US President Barack Obama's list of favorite movies of 2024. Obama annually releases a lit of movies and music that he enjoyed and presents it as his recommendation to his followers across the globe. Barack Obama's favourite movies of 2024 "Here are a few movies I’d recommend checking out this year," wrote Barack Obama sharing the list. Apart from All We Imagine As Light, the list also includes names like Conclave, The Piano Lesson, The Promised Lan, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Dune: Part 2, Anora, Didi, Sugarcane, and A Complete Unknown. Here are my favorite songs from this year! Check them out if you’re looking to shake up your playlist – and let me know if there’s a song or artist I should make sure to listen to. pic.twitter.com/MK51Z77uEb — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 21, 2024 With Obama giving a shout-out to the film, it has once again led to Indian netizens calling out the Film Federation of India (FFI) for not choosing AWIAL as India's official entry for the Oscars. The FFI instead sent Kiran Rao's directorial 'Laapataa Ladies' which is now out of the Oscar race after failing to make it to the shortlist. A user wrote on X, "Even Obama likes 'All we Imagine as Light' but India has to send in subpar movies showcasing villages to gather sympathy votes at the oscars. Bollywood, Indian cinema, as I knew it, is dead." "Even Barack Obama like "All we imagine as light". "Everytime I see AWIAL's new achievement, each time I feel the selection committee has made the biggest possible blunder by sending lapata ladies over AWIAL," wrote another user. "wow even barack obama recommends all we imagine as light, the ffi is a highly incompetent organisation," wrote another user. About All We Imagine As Light "All We Imagine As Light' follows the story of Prabha, a troubled nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, and Anu, her young roommate seeking intimacy with her boyfriend. Their journey to a beach town allows them to confront their desires and emotions. The film stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam in lead roles. The film is an official Indo-French co-production between Petit Chaos (France) and Chalk & Cheese and Another Birth (India). In addition to its Grand Prix win, AWIAL has also been nominated for two Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Awards 2025.
21 December,2024 09:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Kartik Aaryan, who is currently basking in the success of his recent release 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Friday afternoon. Kartik turned heads in as he looked handsome in formal attire. In videos shared by paparazzi, Kartik can be seen walking towards the airport gate. The actor also took a moment to greet the photographers and as he flashed his trademark smile heading inside. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Talking about his recent release, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' also features Vidya Balan, Triptii Dimri, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Rajpal Yadav among others. This also marks the third successful horror-comedy release of 2024, joining the ranks of 'Munjya' and 'Stree 2'. The film stars Kartik alongside Madhuri Dixit Nene, Vidya Balan and Triptii Dimri. It is directed by Anees Azmee, who also helmed the second part of the horror-comedy franchise. 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' is the third instalment in the popular Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise. The first part Bhool Bhulaiyaa, released in 2007, starred Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan in the lead roles. The second part Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) starred Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani, and Tabu in the lead roles. The latest part was released on Diwali and faced a box-office clash with Rohit Shetty's directorial 'Singham Again'. In the film, Ajay reprised the role of police officer Bajirao Singham whom he first essayed in the first part in 2011 and then again in 2014 in the second instalment of the 'Singham' franchise. 'Singham Again' also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone, among others. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIThe second day of the annual function at Mumbai's Dhirubhai Ambani International School witnessed a star-studded gathering as several celebrities attended the event. After Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai's appearance on the first day, celebs including Harbhajan Singh, Geeta Basra, Ishaan Khatter, and Vidya Balan, along with her husband Siddharth Roy Kapur, graced the event. Vidya dressed in a floral kurta with her hair styled in curls, arrived with Siddharth Roy Kapur, who wore a blue shirt and black pants. Vidya was also seen greeting paps with a smile. Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh and his wife Geeta Basra were also spotted with their daughter, Hinaya, and Singh's mother. The family were captured posing for photographers. Geeta looked stunning in a black dress paired with matching stockings and boots, while Harbhajan donned a red shirt, black denim, and a cap. Actor Ishaan Khatter made a stylish appearance, wearing a white shirt, denim jeans, sneakers, and sunglasses. The 'Dhadak' actor posed for the cameras with a smile and gave a thumbs-up before heading inside the venue. Business tycoon, Mukesh Ambani, who is also the school's founder, was seen with his son-in-law Anand Piramal and daughter-in-law Radhika Merchant. The first day of the event was attended by SRK, Gauri Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan among others. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 07:59 AM IST | Mumbai | ANITaimur Ali Khan, B-town's favourite kid and the cute little son of Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan is celebrating his birthday on Friday. On the special day, Taimur's aunt, Soha Ali Khan, shared the most adorable birthday wish for him. Soha took to her Instagram to share a cute video of Taimur and her daughter Inaaya. The video begins with the cousins jumping on the bed, followed by scenes of them swimming, sharing laughs over pizza, and lighting a diya together. One particularly cute moment shows Taimur striking a cute pose with his tongue out and holding a sketch, while Inaaya smiles at him. Along with the video, the 'Rang De Basanti' actress added a caption that read, "From jumping on the bed to racing freestyle we have come a long way - here's to a lifetime of family, food and prezzies !! Happy Birthday Tim bhai." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soha (@sakpataudi) Meanwhile, several clips of Taimur from his school's annual day function have been doing the rounds on the internet. In one of the clips, Kareena can be seen beaming with joy and recording Taimur's performance on her phone. In September, during a press interaction, the 'Jab We Met' actor got candid about her personal and professional lives, revealing a cute anecdote involving her kids. When asked if her son Taimur Ali Khan knows about the film festival named after her, the actress gave an interesting response. She said, "Right now they (Taimur and Jeh) are too young to know these things. He has an idea because of the paparazzi chasing him. I think that is why he only knows. But he keeps saying, 'Why are they chasing? Am I famous?' I said, 'No you are not famous, I am famous. You are nobody, you haven't done anything.' He's like, 'Maybe one day I will do it.' But right now in his mind, it is not films. It is only football. I hope he will watch some of my films, I'm sure someday the minute I can take him away from football." Kareena tied the knot with Saif Ali Khan in 2016. The two have worked together in LOC Kargil (2003) and Omkara (2006), but it was on the sets of the 2008 film Tashan that they fell in love with each other. Later on October 16, 2012, they solemnized their relationship. In 2016, the two became parents to son Taimur and in February 2021, they welcomed Jeh. Saif was married to Amrita Singh before Kareena and they have two children together, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Shah Rukh Khan once shared that he never visited Kashmir because his late father had asked him not to go there without him. An old video of SRK making this heartfelt confession has resurfaced online. In an earlier appearance on Amitabh Bachchan’s game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, Khan revealed the reason he had never visited Kashmir. In the video, the actor could be heard saying, “My father’s mother was Kashmiri. My father told me that in life, make sure you visit Istanbul, Rome, and Kashmir at least once, whether I’m here or not. However, you can visit the other two without me, but don’t go to Kashmir without me.” Shah Rukh added, “So he died very early. I have been all over the world lekin main Kashmir kabhi nahi gaya. Bohot saare mauke bhi mile, doston ne bohot bulaya, ghar wale chutti pe bhi gaye, par main Kashmir kabhi nahi gaya. Kyunki mere father ne kaha tha ki Kashmir mere bina mat dekhna, Kashmir main dikhaaunga,” (I had many opportunities to visit Kashmir—my friends invited me, and even my family went on a holiday there. However, I never went because my father told me not to go without him, as he wanted to take me himself.”) SRK’s father, Mir Taj Mohammed Khan, passed away from cancer when he was just a teenager, and his mother, Lateef Fatima Khan, died a decade later, when he was only 24. Shah Rukh Khan made his first-ever visit to Kashmir in 2012, during the shoot of his film “Jab Tak Hai Jaan.” Before landing in Kashmir, Khan had tweeted, “Dark clouds...wet roads...too early for even life to feel alive...but I am on way to make movies. A cigarette and coffee as co travellers.” Reports suggest that Shah Rukh Khan also filmed scenes for his movie “Dunki” in Kashmir. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIGulmohar (2023) reminded us how much we had missed seeing Sharmila Tagore on screen. Over a year later, the veteran actor has faced the camera again for Outhouse, teaming up with her Mississippi Masala (1991) co-star Dr Mohan Agashe. In Sunil Sukthankar’s directorial venture, Tagore plays a successful illustrator, who develops an unlikely friendship with an elderly neighbour while babysitting her grandson over a weekend. It was the director’s sensitive gaze towards the plight of senior citizens that drew her to Outhouse. “The film brings forth the different needs of old age, and how the intergenerational gaps can be filled by communicating, with some humour and understanding,” starts Tagore. The film, which hit the screens yesterday, marks Agashe’s last collaboration with writer Sumitra Bhave, who passed away in 2021. Having worked together in notable Marathi films, including Kaasav (2017) and Dithee (2019), the senior actor wanted Bhave to explore how the lives of elderly people are impacted by the breakdown of traditional family dynamics and a change in the caregiving system. But Agashe had a caveat—it should not be a tear-jerker. Remembering Bhave, he says, “After I read the script, Sumitra asked me, ‘Do you think Sharmila would act in this?’ I told Sumitra that I would ask her. Fortunately, Sharmila liked the script.” At a time of big-scale entertainers, the slice-of-life film comes as a fresh breath of air. Tagore believes it is a much-needed departure from the actioners that are currently dominating the box office. “A lot of violent films have done well. I don’t mind violent films. If it has a theme or there is a reason for that violence, I’m open to seeing it. I can’t stomach films that are violent for the sake of violence. At the moment, films are going through a rough time. The actors are charging so much money. From what I hear, bigger films like Kalki 2898 AD and Brahmāstra: Part One—Shiva [2022] attract the audience. But personally, I like smaller movies like Laapataa Ladies,” she smiles. Agashe echoes her sentiment, adding that “the world of movies is becoming a bit toxic”. “There is a lot of violence and sex in today’s films. When it hits a certain threshold of toxicity, it needs a good detox. I preferred this film because there is no sex, violence, killings or religious propaganda. It’s about the pure friendship between a child and a puppy, and the lives of two elderly singles.”
21 December,2024 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRA moment that’s special Chef Vikas Khanna—who has previously served as the judge of an Indian cooking reality television show—has hosted numerous celebrities at his New York restaurant, Bungalow, and his most recent visitor may easily be among the most notable too. Khanna shared on Instagram why Hollywood star Anne Hathaway’s visit held immense significance. “I still remember the day I had to delete all the files of [Hathaway’s film] The Devil Wears Prada, and Sex and the City from my computer. I had saved these files to watch on a loop on hospital beds with my sister. I can’t even recall how many times Radha, Saman Mahmood, and I watched them together. She adored Anne Hathaway and knew all the dialogues by heart. She was happiest reciting every line from DWP. Somehow, I memorised them too. This was her painkiller,” he wrote. Vikas’s sister, Radhika Khanna, passed away in 2022 after battling lupus for many years. “Thank you, Anne, for taking away her pain when we repeated, ‘Everybody wants to be us,’ and laughed. I photoshopped my Radha into the photo, right next to her hero. I know she was there.” On the go Even as she continues to be in the news for her social media tiff with Mukesh Khanna, Sonakshi Sinha is seemingly unperturbed as she travels the world with her husband, Zaheer Iqbal. After travelling across Singapore, the Philippines, and Italy, the duo is holidaying in Australia. On social media, Sinha gave a peek of their “epic dive day”. Her surreal vacation is surely leaving her fans in awe. Sharing the breathtaking pictures online, she wrote, “Epic dive day at the Great Barrier Reef! Thank you to our dive guide, who showed us the best spots.” Sharing good vibes Shreyas Talpade extended his good wishes to actor-filmmaker Kangana Ranaut after her film, Emergency, was cleared for release by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The political drama, written, directed, and co-produced by Ranaut, was earlier scheduled to be released on September 6 but missed the date as it failed to get a clearance from the CBFC. It was also embroiled in controversy after Sikh organisations said it misrepresented the community. “It’s a good film, made on a good subject. Kangana has made the film with a lot of passion, and the movie should come out,” Talpade said in an interview. Ranaut features as former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the movie that delves into the Emergency that was imposed from 1975 to 1977. Talpade plays the role of the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the film, which will now release in theatres on January 17. Take me back in time Actor Sheeba Chaddha recently opened up about her childhood connection to the script of Bandish Bandits. “Growing up in Delhi, I was always drawn to the arts, especially during winters, when culture really came alive with incredible musicians and dancers. I even learned Odissi dance for a while. My love for classical music shaped how I hear music. [Working on] Bandish Bandits felt both familiar and right,” she said.
21 December,2024 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamYo Yo Honey Singh: FamousOn: NetflixGenre: DocumentaryDir: Mozez SinghRating: 3/5 Nothing is usual about hip-hop star Hirdesh Singh. Starting with his stage name, Yo Yo Honey Singh, that I don’t know where he picked up from. Particularly the two Yos. Perhaps inspired by the double honorific, Sri Sri (Ravi Shankar); who knows? What we also didn’t know, for sure—until the latest Netflix documentary—is how this music sensation fell through the cracks, altogether disappearing from the scene, while at the peak of his career, as India’s richest rapper, back in 2014. That’s the point of Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, piloted by Oscar-winning doc-producer, Guneet Monga. That point also makes one wonder about other things that this film could’ve been. To begin with, it’s not a hagiographical biopic. The only other doc on a Punjabi hip-hop star that I’ve watched, AP Dhillon: First of a Kind (Prime Video), was one such—to the extent that they ought to have tagged ‘paid partnership’ to the title, for fair disclosure. And just as most meetings are actually emails, and all emails should be WhatsApp texts—there is a tendency to pass off straightforward interview/s as documentaries! Notably, the last Netflix, desi pop-culture flick, Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli. The camera in Famous seldom zooms out for a wider social perspective. Whether that be exploring the larger, lively hip-hop scene that curiously birthed in West Delhi in the 2000s (may I recommend you Google a piece from Caravan magazine on that). Honey is from Karampura neighbourhood in the same area. He shows you around, going, “Ma city, ma hood…” Awrightie, yo! The windowless home he grew up in, that you watch in the film, modelled on a train compartment, is modest alright. In contrast to his African-American bling, fast-car, designer-label, derivative image. But it is still middle-class. Hardly rags, even for the riches that followed. The film’s commentary is chiefly restricted to two voices, that’s it. One’s a music critic, Bhanuj Kappal, who I enjoyed listening to. Wherein he frames Honey’s early career through a series of experiments, with an eye on audiences—“Bhagat Singh thing, hip-hop, Eminem-style gangster rap, party rap…” Until he arrived at the most acceptable, new sound, with folk into the mix. Hence, Honey’s debut studio album, International Villager, that made him, overnight, a national star. Kappal calls out the misogyny in Honey’s songs. He firstly got accused for a track ‘Mein hoon balatkaari’ that he evidently never sang. There’s another track on female anatomy, attributed to Honey’s band/platform, Mafia Mundeer, that he says, never released. Honey has his say on the matter. I remember defending him before news anchor Arnab Goswami in 2012, after the Nirbhaya incident, when mainstream media were looking for convenient villains to nail for a gruesome crime by deranged maniacs. The issue with burdening entertainment with societal ills, besides being left with only bores on this planet—you will find an easy solution, you still won’t know the problem. Not that this debate ever ends. I recently found myself on a TV station arguing against Telangana government banning songs to do with alcohol, from Honey’s former colleague Diljit Dosanjh’s concert-playlist. I mean, seriously? Forget Harivanshrai Bachchan’s Madhushala, what about gazillion ghazals, in praise of booze—where do you start from, let alone end up with. The only other commentator in Famous is actor Salman Khan. Not a surprise. Maybe the empathy comes from personal experience, he has a thing for getting behind fallen stars—TV host Kapil Sharma, when he was struggling with alcohol; or actor Sooraj Pancholi, embroiled in the Jiah Khan suicide-abetment case. There’s a fine moment in the film, when Honey gets sent a scratch from Salman. The track (Twinkle twinkle little star) is ready. Salman asks Honey to add rap portions to it. He stars in the song sequence, with Salman, in the film, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023). It’s Honey’s Bollywood onscreen comeback of sorts. The way Honey and his homies insert a chorus to that number is a delight to savour. It’s these in-studio BTS footage that make music documentaries so alluring for the outsider’s eye. If only there were more such, even if from archives. Now that we’ve delved enough into what Famous, competently directed by Mozez Singh (Zubaan), could have also been, let’s shine a sincere light on what the film is. It is tight, and to the point. It sharply zeroes in on perils of extreme fame. I don’t think any young human is capable of indifference, when God-like status is thrust upon them, suddenly, by a fawning public, while they’re basically talented plus lucky musicians or sportspersons, at best. Surely that takes a needless toll. That said, and this is unrelated to fame, per se—what the documentary draws you in with are aspects of mental health. Honey fell off the map, because he got diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, with psychotic symptoms. He stayed in for over three years. Doing nothing, after dominating India’s soundscape, where he could do nothing wrong. It’s only while watching Famous, I realised, that golden phase was merely between 2012-2014. Badshah perhaps became the new Honey. Diljit is the reigning Badshah. Karan Aujla is probably the new kid on the block. Music, in the age of 15-second Insta Reels, seems the shortest-lived game, ever. Honey looks lost; says he wants to return with Dr Dre, at some point. Who knows? *YUCK **WHATEVER ***GOOD ****SUPER *****AWESOME
21 December,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharADVERTISEMENT
