Syed Firdaus Ashraf
<Picture>A still from Hindustan Ki Kasam. Click for bigger
pic!
Wonder how many jailbirds went on to direct Amitabh
Bachchan. We know for certain that at least one did. Name of
Veeru Devgan. Director-producer of the upcoming Hindustan Ki
Kasam.
It was at 14, in 1957 that Veeru took his most serious
decision -- to try his luck in Bollywood. So he and three
other friends fled their homes in Amritsar and boarded the
Frontier Mail without bothering to purchase a ticket.
The ticket collectors missed them for most of the way. But
their run of luck ended at Virar where one of the four was
caught. They ended up at the Virar railway lock-up, a good
distance from the nearest film studio.
"We never knew we had almost reached Bombay. And since Virar
was under the Thane police's jurisdiction, the railway
police took us next day to Thane jail via Dadar by train.
When we alighted at Dadar station, we realised we were in
Bombay," recalls Devgan.
But they were on their way to the court at Thane and so they
bid goodbye to the city to stand before the Thane
magistrate. The magistrate said they'd have to either pay a
fine or go to jail. Being penniless, they cooled their heels
a week behind bars.
They were asked to leave after a week but Veeru was
reluctant since they were at least fed in the jail. But they
had to go. However, the jailer suggested that they try their
luck at Koliwada near Sion since there were a great many
Punjabis like them there.
<Picture>A poster from Hindustan Ki Kasam. Click for bigger
pic!
"We left for Koliwada in a hope that some Punjabi fellowmen
would help us. But we didn't get help from anyone," he says.
The next day, sick and disappointed, Devgan's friends
decided they'd had enough of the city and left for Amritsar.
But Devgan was made of tougher stuff and decided he wouldn't
return till he made his name in the film industry.
In the interim, he set about cleaning taxis and working
part-time job as a carpenter. Once he'd regained some
confidence, Devgan began circling the film studios, hoping
he'd get a chance as an actor. But he realised that his more
conventional mug hadn't a chance among the chocolate faces
that was the standard at the time.
"After seeing my face in the mirror, I felt I was much
inferior to the other strugglers. So I gave up. But I took a
vow then that my first son born would become a hero," Devgan
recalls. That son, you might be interested to know if you
already didn't, was one Ajay Devgan.
Anyway, Veeru, having given up plans to become a hero,
returned to chipping wood. And that was when his granduncle
came down from Amritsar to take him home. His granduncle had
earlier expressed his hope that Devgan would become a
policeman or a tempo driver.
"I was never interested in those jobs. After staying for a
year in Amritsar. I told Nanaji that I would like to return
to Bombay and do something on my own which I knew I could
never do in Amritsar."
And so he returned to resume his aborted career as a
carpenter and took up free-style wrestling on the side.
<Picture>Click for bigger pic!
"I gained expertise in it. And one day I got my first break
as a stunt man in Anita." However, the film didn't see the
light of day due to some financial problems. But with it,
Devgan got a break with well-known fight director Ravi
Khanna.
After a long and arduous time as a stunt man, Devgan got his
first break as a fight director in Manoj Kumar's Roti Kapda
aur Makaan. And then his career picked up, and he soon had a
great many films on hand.
"I have played a stuntman for almost every hero, be it Dilip
Kumar, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Rajesh Khanna or
Jeetendra."
So didn't he come anywhere close to death during that time?
Devgan laughs.
"Death hovers over a stuntman constantly. I have escaped
narrowly so many times that I have stopped giving importance
to such problems."
Aaj mere jism ki ek ek hadi toot choki hai [Every bone in my
body has been broken]," he says.
So, how he get the idea for Hindustan Ki Kasam?
<Picture>Click for bigger pic!
"Actually, I have seen the brotherhood of Hindus and Muslims
before and after Partition. Members of my family were saved
by Muslims during the 1947 riots. I had witnessed it all as
a child in Amritsar.
"I feel that people of both India and Pakistan want
friendship. But it is only the political classes that are
not interested in keeping the peace.
Devgan refuses to give more details about the films and says
the story is worth the suspense. What we do know is that it
revolves around a writer who, in his books, tends to detail
the killing of a group of officers picked to ensure Pakistan
is declared a rogue state. And the army sits up and takes
notice...
How does it feel to have a son become a superstar?
"Obviously, I feel good that my dreams have been achieved."
<Picture>Click for bigger pic!
Like him, Ajay also had to contend with the ordinariness of
his face, compared to the dashing figures cut by compatriots
like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar et al.
"People used to laugh at me and say, Itna ordinary face ka
aadmi hero ban hi nahin sakta [A man with such an ordinary
face cannot become a hero]'. But Ajay has proved his critics
wrong and established himself as an actor since 1991."
According to Devgan, Ajay is the only actor in the film
industry today who can speak through his silence and deliver
dialogues through his eyes.
We drop the matter of Ajay and return to discussing Veeru.
So how has fame changed him?
"I am still the same Veeru Devgan I used to be 40 years ago.
I still prefer to travel by my motorbike -- In fact, I do
that to avoid traffic jams. I am still in regular touch with
my old friends."
And then we pitch the curve ball, about how he never
comments about how he copes up with his daughter-in-law
Kajol.
"The press is always interested in cooking up stories. So,
we decided not to comment anything regarding our personal
life. She is just like my daughter at home. And we all live
together happily."
End of interview.
Sounds like this movie is an attempt (along with our politicians) to
promote more hatred between the people of India and Pakistan....is it??
If so then shame on the evil people that made this....at a time when
"show biz" people should be bridging the gap.. ...there they are doing
exactly the opposite!
A Cassam <aca...@home.com> wrote:
Mo,
Sounds like this movie is an attempt (along with our
politicians) to promote more hatred between the people of
India and Pakistan....is it??
If so then shame on the evil people that made this....at a
time when they should be bridging the gap.. ...there they
are doing just the opposite!
Love live the movie makers!!
Abida
Had they waited for all the hype and emotions /hatred etc. to subside...
would have been less popular with the "masses"???
Abida
It looks that way. Either that or, as one review I've seen suggests,
it's a remarkable coincidence! :o)
BTW, I'm not sure about Mo's "at least 2 years" figure. The Indian
industry has the resources, and the expertise, to turn out films very
quickly, if necessary. Remember the recent Tamil film that was made in
24 hours!
>
>Had they waited for all the hype and emotions /hatred etc. to subside...
>would have been less popular with the "masses"???
One wonders how much the "masses" actually care about the conflict. It
is quite "close to home" I suppose. As for the heightened emotions, they
will surely continue for a while yet, at least until after the
forthcoming elections. I suggest we simply relax and enjoy the film for
what it is: A snapshot of India in mid-1999. It seems that all the usual
Bollywood ingredients are there. Pakistani viewers shouldn't take too
much offence, I feel. This is the way things are in India right now. We
live in hope that sanity will prevail. Enjoy what is, after all, just a
movie.
>
>Abida
--
Richard Turner
The never-seen-before action in Hindustan Ki Kasam is said
to be among its highlights.
That’s right. Shot entirely in the USA, they involve five
planes and five copters. They’re sequences of mid-air
fights. As for how we shot them, the cameraman had to jump
from a plane from a height of 14,000 ft and can the entire
sequence with his helmet-bound camera. The artistes were
required to jump from a plane with parachutes, and it did
require some training for a couple of days. The main
artistes seldom ever participate in such risky stunts
abroad. When I did, the action directors in the US were
surprised.
You’ve incorporated Vajpayee’s historical bus diplomacy in
the film. An attempt to make it contemporary?
No. We actually shot the sequence much before the incident
took place.
We don’t believe you.
Ask anybody from our unit, if you like. It’s strange, but
we’d actually shot it as part of our climax much in advance.
So in a way you were predicting the future, do you think?
No, I’d say it was a mere coincidence, more than any
conscious prediction of what was to come. But when it
actually happened, my dad did feel very nice. It’s sad that
after that effort at diplomacy, the two neighbours are back
at war.
What was it like to work with Manisha and Sushmita?
Very good. I’ve worked with Manisha before and I get along
well with her. And Sushmita’s every bit as professional and
fun to work with.
But weren’t you once at loggerheads with Manisha, not so
long ago?
That was ages ago. There were misunderstandings, but those
were sorted out much before Hindustan Ki Kasam and Kachche
Dhaage. In fact during the making of HKK, we actually had a
nice time on the sets.
Why do they have to waste their resources on wars with India when history
has told them that they can never win against their bigger brother. They
should just give up on it and concentrate on feeding the poor.
viv
Mo <10033...@compuserve.com> wrote in message
news:ktIm3.7879$ts3.2...@nnrp4.clara.net...
From Biwi #1 to this "hate" talk.....what progress!!!!
> The movie has been running house full , even the morning
>shows so it seems like its going to be a very big hit . How
>do people know whether a movie is going to be good - is it
>because of the music they have heard ?
Sukhvinder Singh's music for HKK, with the possible exceptions of "Jalwa
jalwa", and the Burmanesque "Tere dil ke paas", is surely just an
average score. The appeal for many must lie in the "patriotic" theme,
and perhaps also in its use of big names like Amitabh Bachchan.
Incidentally, my apologies for my earlier post on this topic, where I
suggested that Pakistani viewers might be able to enjoy this film. It
appears that I was well wide of the mark.
>
> Some movies which I thought were very good indeed like Anari
>No. 1 -and naysayers like Viv and Harish should try and
>write a comedy script to see how difficult it is
On the contrary, those two excel in writing comedy. It's just
unfortunate that they don't realise they're doing it! Harish is
especially amusing in his juvenile chauvinism. LOL!
>- had very
>few people ..
Regards,
--
Richard Turner
You've got that right Richard..patriotic themes seem to be always
popular. I'd be really surprised, in spite of what you all are
saying....if this movie does not win a few awards!
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
> Incidentally, my apologies for my earlier post on this topic, where I
> suggested that Pakistani viewers might be able to enjoy this film. It
> appears that I was well wide of the mark.
Yes Richard...am afraid you were! If you really "cherished" your life...
please refrain from further comments and taking sides :-)) IMHO think
you should go into "hiding" till emotions "chill" out !!!!!
(Not to worry ...just joking!)
Emotions run high and blood starts "boiling" when it comes to discussing
India/Pakistan politics .
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Some movies which I thought were very good indeed like Anari
> >No. 1 -and naysayers like Viv and Harish should try and
> >write a comedy script to see how difficult it is
>
> On the contrary, those two excel in writing comedy. It's just
> unfortunate that they don't realise they're doing it! Harish is
> especially amusing in his juvenile chauvinism. LOL!
>
Watch out David Dhawan!!
> >-
Very good Richard ! Hope these two comedians will respond
with the same wit and not take refuge in bad language..
viv
Harish C Hari <So...@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:379BE1...@xtra.co.nz...
In article <MtomJWAz...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk>,
Richard Turner <ric...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Mo,
>
> > The movie has been running house full , even the morning
> >shows so it seems like its going to be a very big hit . How
> >do people know whether a movie is going to be good - is it
> >because of the music they have heard ?
>
> Sukhvinder Singh's music for HKK, with the possible exceptions of
"Jalwa
> jalwa", and the Burmanesque "Tere dil ke paas", is surely just an
> average score. The appeal for many must lie in the "patriotic" theme,
> and perhaps also in its use of big names like Amitabh Bachchan.
>
> Incidentally, my apologies for my earlier post on this topic, where I
> suggested that Pakistani viewers might be able to enjoy this film. It
> appears that I was well wide of the mark.
> >
> > Some movies which I thought were very good indeed like Anari
> >No. 1 -and naysayers like Viv and Harish should try and
> >write a comedy script to see how difficult it is
>
> On the contrary, those two excel in writing comedy. It's just
> unfortunate that they don't realise they're doing it! Harish is
> especially amusing in his juvenile chauvinism. LOL!
>
> >- had very
> >few people ..
>
> Regards,
> --
> Richard Turner
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Aqib,
Please note that I did apologise for my error. I can assure you that I
do indeed think before posting! :o) However, it was my understanding
that Indian movies of the "Bollywood" variety were very popular with the
ordinary people of Pakistan. Of course I do not expect such forms of
mass entertainment to be greeted with enthusiasm by the intellectuals of
Pakistan, or any other country.
Best regards,
Richard
--
Richard Turner
learned pakis? You must be joking, right?
Hope you realize what you did here.....you opened a "can of worms" here
didn't you???
No body here cares a "damn" about your subsequent remarks made in good
faith taking back your initial comments!!
IMHO this is just enough fuel to spark a full scale war .
And watch out if our tempers "flare" "we too have the damn nuclear bomb
you clowns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manu wrote:
>
In article <379EF136...@worldnet.att.net>,
'Incidentally, my apologies for my earlier post on this topic, where I
> suggested that Pakistani viewers might be able to enjoy this film. It
> appears that I was well wide of the mark.'
din...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> frankly, most of the learned pakis (obviously witht he exception of a
> few) dont give a shit to the indian movies... full of indirect portraal
> of sex, cheap jokes, over acting, f-rated dialogs.. etc etc... no, im
> not defending the paki movies, theyre even worse.. but next time, try to
> be a bit careful when suggesting an indian movie to us pakistanis....
> its always a nice idea to think b4 u write!
> regards,
> aqib.
>
Manu wrote:
>
> din...@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > frankly, most of the learned pakis (obviously witht he exception of a
> > few) dont give a shit to the indian movies... full of
>
You are wrong here.....definitely not patriotic Indian movies..no
way...no Thanks Sir!!!
Richard Turner wrote:
>
> In article <7nm8o5$cn0$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>, din...@my-deja.com writes
> >frankly, most of the learned pakis (obviously witht he exception of a
> >few) dont give a shit to the indian movies... full of indirect portraal
> >of sex, cheap jokes, over acting, f-rated dialogs.. etc etc... no, im
> >not defending the paki movies, theyre even worse.. but next time, try to
> >be a bit careful when suggesting an indian movie to us pakistanis....
> >its always a nice idea to think b4 u write!
> >regards,
> >aqib.
>
I guess being a Paki is enough humiliation..
I would be.. I think the Pakis did something terrible in
their past lives to be born as a Paki!
viv
A Cassam <aca...@home.com> wrote in message
news:379FA95E...@home.com...
> Please do note Richard's admission below:
>
> 'Incidentally, my apologies for my earlier post on this topic, where I
> > suggested that Pakistani viewers might be able to enjoy this film. It
> > appears that I was well wide of the mark.'
>
>
>
> din...@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > frankly, most of the learned pakis (obviously witht he exception of a
> > few) dont give a shit to the indian movies... full of indirect portraal
> > of sex, cheap jokes, over acting, f-rated dialogs.. etc etc... no, im
> > not defending the paki movies, theyre even worse.. but next time, try to
> > be a bit careful when suggesting an indian movie to us pakistanis....
> > its always a nice idea to think b4 u write!
> > regards,
> > aqib.
> >
by every means watch patriotc movies, but not ones such as dire and dull
as hindustan ki kasam, it will bomb, the movie sucks,excpet jalwa and
bachchan and manisha's tits. the movie wont starta nuclear war, indians
arent dumb enough to start a war over such a crap movie, not even worth
arguing abiut hkk is CRAP
viv
A Cassam <aca...@home.com> wrote in message
news:379BF38D...@home.com...
As a proud RMIMer, I strongly resent any suggestion that these two are
in any way associated with that newsgroup. I suspect that Viv, at least,
is posting here as part of a rehabilitation program, prior to his
release back into the community. Unfortunately, he was given the wrong
NG to subscribe to. rec.arts.morons.local.indian has yet to be created,
though I understand that Sunny Audit is working on it. All posts will be
in Hindi, and must feature gratuitous bad language and references to
women's breasts, so Harish will feel at home there.
None of the above is to be taken seriously. I thank you.
--
Richard Turner
viv
Richard Turner <ric...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Bl7l7iAHjLp3Ew$y...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk...
Thanks!
In article <Bl7l7iAHjLp3Ew$y...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk>,
Richard Turner <ric...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <6h2p3.12210$ts3.3...@nnrp4.clara.net>, Mo
> <10033...@compuserve.com> writes
> > Viv and Harish are trolls sent over from Rmim to wreck this
> >newsgroup with their bad language and nasty remarks .
> >Ignore them..
>
> As a proud RMIMer, I strongly resent any suggestion that these two are
> in any way associated with that newsgroup. I suspect that Viv, at
least,
> is posting here as part of a rehabilitation program, prior to his
> release back into the community. Unfortunately, he was given the wrong
> NG to subscribe to. rec.arts.morons.local.indian has yet to be
created,
> though I understand that Sunny Audit is working on it. All posts will
be
> in Hindi, and must feature gratuitous bad language and references to
> women's breasts, so Harish will feel at home there.
>
> None of the above is to be taken seriously. I thank you.
> --
> Richard Turner
>
That's exactly what I plan on doing ....for the rest of my life..ignore
them that is! LOL!
Abida
Mo wrote:
>
> Viv and Harish are trolls sent over from Rmim to wreck this
> newsgroup with their bad language and nasty remarks .
> Ignore them..
>
TROLL-O-METER
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
==================================>
Whether I have a low IQ or not, I do at least have a sense of humour!
;o) (Clue: Read the penultimate sentence of my previous.)
--
Richard Turner
And on a real serious note here..please count me out of this Hindustan
Ki Kasam controversy.
I am a "JIYE SINDH" and independent "SINDHU DESH" believer. Ha! fooled
ya didn't I??? You can write all you want against your enemy ...I
believe strongly in the disintegration of my own country......where
Punjab rules Sindh. So your enemy is in essence my enemy too!
JIYE SINDH!
Abida Sultana
fusenewsgroups wrote:
>
> as you seem to be the selfstyled moderator of this group along with Mo and
> Cassam would you like to become the moderator of your new baby the "Moron
> group" as your IQ seems to be rightly suited for it. I am not sick of your
> attempts at getting me out of this group so i beg you to keep trying. Maybe
> you will be successful some day.
>
> viv
>
> Richard Turner <ric...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:Bl7l7iAHjLp3Ew$y...@chaltechalte.demon.co.uk...
> > In article <6h2p3.12210$ts3.3...@nnrp4.clara.net>, Mo
> > <10033...@compuserve.com> writes
> > > Viv and Harish are trolls sent over from Rmim to wreck this
> > >newsgroup with their bad language and nasty remarks .
> > >Ignore them..
> >
Your IQ might be low Richard (who cares!) but God what a great sense of
humour you have ! LOL!!
Remember ..the opposite of what Viv says is always true. So if he says
you have a low IQ....guess what that really means?
Take that as a compliment from this "well meaning" soul and don't forget
to thank him Richard.
Abida
Richard Turner wrote:
>
> In article <rqa18j1...@corp.supernews.com>, fusenewsgroups
> <nob...@home.com> writes
> > as you seem to be the selfstyled moderator of this group along with Mo and
> >Cassam would you like to become the moderator of your new baby the "Moron
> >group" as your IQ seems to be rightly suited for it. I am not sick of your
> >attempts at getting me out of this group so i beg you to keep trying. Maybe
> >you will be successful some day.
> >
> >
> >viv
>
>Everyone seems to implying that I am about a start a group aboout something
>Indian/morons, Well I'm not!
>I was thinking of starting a group of PC game Cheats. I thought some of you
>could help me part with some info on your behalf as to how to satrt a NG.
>But insated your calling a me a moronand other insulting names. I am deeply
>hurt by these comment as they have nothing to do with this disccusions at
>all. If you want to insult people then please go some where else. Becuase
>sensible grown up's like yourself's, insulting people isn't fair.
>
I'm sorry, Sunny, but as I tried to point out to Viv., I was joking.
Actually, from what I've read, starting a newsgroup is a complicated
business which requires good organisational skills, so my saying that
you might be capable of doing that is more of a compliment than a
criticism. Your ISP ought to have included some sort of FAQ on this
topic in your newsreading software, but I can email you some information
about starting a 'group in the uk.* hierarchy, if it would be useful.
Otherwise, check the existing computer games NGs.
You might be able to find interested people in
rec.games.computer.doom.announce
and
rec.games.computer.quake.announce
My apologies for a (mostly) off-topic posting.
Regards,
--
Richard Turner