#chowringhee theatre

[monosko]

VANISHING ENGLISH THEATRE & the Emerging Bengali Stage in Renaissant Calcutta

Prince of Wales’s Box at the English Theatre. Calcutta. 1875. Courtesy Getty’s Backdrop British ex-pats built ‘Town Calcutta’ replicating London to continue to live in an exclusive English style, shutting out the natives of the land. It may appear a hard saying, yet the fact remains that, even for the natives, Calcutta was an artificial place of residence [Firminger]. The Britishers were…

[asoknath]

VANISHING ENGLISH THEATRE & the Emerging Bengali Stage in Renaissant Calcutta

Prince of Wales’s Box at the English Theatre. Calcutta. 1875. Courtesy Getty’s Backdrop British ex-pats built ‘Town Calcutta’ replicating London to continue to live in an exclusive English style, shutting out the natives of the land. It may appear a hard saying, yet the fact remains that, even for the natives, Calcutta was an artificial place of residence [Firminger]. The Britishers were…

[bollywoodirect]

Remembering legendary actor #ShashiKapoor on his 86th birth anniversary (18/03/38). Shashi Kapoor, remembered as a gentleman in his personal life, was a distinguished and accomplished actor on both stage and screen, known for his natural talent and versatility. He was also a visionary who had a clear sense of purpose, and his impact on India's social and cultural rejuvenation was unmatched. From producing films for acclaimed directors such as Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani to revitalizing Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre, Kapoor left an indelible mark on the country's artistic landscape. During a time when women directors were a rare sight in the film industry, Kapoor played a pivotal role in launching Aparna Sen's directorial career by producing her debut film, 36 Chowringhee Lane. This decision helped to pave the way for other women filmmakers to follow in Sen's footsteps, and it exemplified Kapoor's commitment to supporting emerging talent and promoting diversity in Indian cinema.

[jobgujnews]

Sanjna Kapoor to receive French honour for outstanding contribution to theatre

Sanjna Kapoor to receive French honour for outstanding contribution to theatre

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published: January 28, 2020 3:28:32 pm

Sanjna Kapoor made her film debut in Aparna Sen’s 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981). (Photo: Express Archives)

Noted theatre personality Sanjna Kapoor, the daughter of Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor, will be conferred prestigious French honour, Knight of the Order of Arts and…

[srbachchan]

DAY 3311

Jalsa, Mumbai                  Apr 21/22,  2017                Fri/Sat 12:02 am

A face that looks on at the lady by his side .. a lady of eminence .. a lady of wit and humour and of journalist equality .. a lady of book .. a book on the most talked about mediated, media covered Blitz at a time when the University College blues played out from the late 50′s .. the story that shook the entire nation .. and shook the turnstiles in cinema, three times over ..

“ IN HOT BLOOD “

A handsome naval officer .. a beautiful British wife .. a rich businessman lover .. 3 bullets shot .. and the country stood still , but in reaction ..

A crime  .. 

“Crime Passionelle” by Jean Paul Sartre, that famous theatre play, that we all admired and performed in the good ‘ol Calcutta days of Amateur theatre .. the theory of existentialism propagated by Sartre a novelty to us .. not understanding and beyond our limits .. but a crime of passion all the same ..

( I do try to salvage those memories but find that maybe all my information of the details given above could be entirely wrong. I cannot say whether Sartre, wrote the play Crime Passionelle, the spelling is wrong I know, but it is to convey a crime of passion .. which I believe in the Courts of Law in France is a sympathetic crime )

So what Nanavati did by shooting his wife’s lover, was a crime of passion ! Perhaps one that got sympathetic consideration as being acceptable .. or some such .. the details are beyond me ..

But when you do get hold of the book do read it .. there is a great deal more than what transpired .. and a great deal more about the number of prominent individuals and celebrities and VVIP’s that came into the story as it levelled out page after page in the media ..!!

That is all that transpired in a somewhat uncertain day .. a few meetings on the productions under way .. some interesting presentations on VR and AR, the future of digital world .. and the rain interrupted IPL game between KKR vs GL, which with great surprise GL has won .. I walked away from the set when the rain came down in Kolkata .. rain .. at this time in Kolkata when the entire nation burns in its worst heat temperatures perhaps .. yes rain .. it is typical of that region .. they are called the NorWesters .. or strong winds followed by rain coming from the North West regions .. heavy gusts of stormy weather by the evening of a very hot day, followed by rain .. momentarily .. the rain passes over .. and nature has taken care of the uncomfortably hot Bengal territory !!! It was a wonderful respite .. a time for more ‘puchkas’ at Victoria Memorial, a drive along Park Street and Chowringhee, a spicy hot Chinese dinner at Waldorf’s, and off to our ‘chummery’ to get set for the office in the morrow .. 

Those days shall never return .. the more one thinks about it the more painful the nostalgia and its absence in our world today .. !!

Amitabh Bachchan

[the42kolkata-blog]

Top 3 Home Improvement Tips for Apartments Sale in Kolkata

If you are taking up home improvement projects for apartments sale in Kolkata, it can be a difficult task- if you are not clear in your head. A lot of owners are not clear about where to start in their head. This makes things difficult.

 Another important factor is your budget. A home improvement project with the best stuff does not always mean exceeding budget. Most of the homeowners end up doing that because they do not follow some basic practices.

Here are some tips for you to follow for your upcoming home improvement projects:

 Too many appliances do not make a good deal

It is definitely impressive to have new furniture and appliances for your luxurious apartment. However, you cannot go overboard with them.

These can be expensive- so buy them when you really need them. If you are bringing your furniture pieces just to clutter your apartment, then that is not putting those to the best use.

Even if you are looking at the home decor aspect of it, too many of these are not going to enhance the beauty of your apartment, really. You can start with figuring out a realistic inventory and chalk out what you need really.

 Do not keep too much empty spaces

Try to convert some unused spaces- like a vacant corner or a small room. This improves the look of your room the best. Too much empty space looks blunt.

It is not necessary to convert it into a storage space only. An entertainment center with a home theatre system- how about that? Or maybe your workstation at home- isn’t that a nice idea?

If you have a spacious apartment like THE 42 Chowringhee, you can also have the luxury to create a mini bar in one empty corner (or a wine storage, for that matter). Those who have kids can convert the extra space to play area.

These choices are going to make your improvement works dynamic.

 Keep some plants inside the apartment

When you take up an improvement project, it is not necessary that you have to only work on repair works. You can also add something significant which makes a visible difference in your apartment.

Introducing plants in the seemingly empty corners in your apartments sale in Kolkata will look classy. Try to do this near a source of natural light. A living being inside the apartment will make it appear more lively.

[asksabhaniblog]

Saaransh - Bollywood Movie - Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Nilu… Soni Razdan has always been a bit of an oddity in the Hindi film industry. The British-born actress made her screen debut in Aparna Sen’s 36 Chowringhee Lane in 1981, and became a familiar face after starring in the popular television drama Buniyaad on Doordarshan in 1986. Razdan has also notched up a series of acclaimed roles in arthouse films in the 1980s, including Mandi, Trikaal and Saaransh, apart from appearing in mainstream and stage productions, where she worked with the likes of Satyadev Dubey. More recent appearances include Monsoon Wedding, Page 3, Jaaneman, Patiala House and Love Breakups Zindagi.These days, of course, Soni Razdan has been reinstated in popular consciousness as Alia Bhatt’s mother.“I am always incredibly proud to be known as her mother, but I am also an actor and unfortunately no one has approached me in a while with any work until now,” Razdan told Scroll.in. At a time when “stereotypes are being broken and women are playing roles beyond that are centre stage and not mothers in the background”, Razdan hopes her eagerness to get back to work will be broadcast in the filmmaking community. Perhaps she is being modest, because she recently wrapped up Sanjoy Nag’s Hindi movie Yours Truly, in which she plays the lead. This is the first time in years that Razdan has been offered a film that puts her in the spotlight, and the 61-year-old actress says she is enjoying it. “It is very rare at my age to play such a central role, to get an offer like this to begin with is quite unusual,” she said. The film is based on a short story by Annie Zaidi, about a woman who lives a solitary life and is about to retire from her job. Also starring Razdan’s husband, the filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, Pankaj Tripathi and Aahana Kumra, the movie deals with loneliness and love, and has Razdan excited about the unusual plot and treatment.“It is not a run-of-the-mill story,” she said. “It gave me the usual opportunity to get into someone’s head and explore a life that is very different to mine, at least on the surface.” As she immersed herself in the character, she began to find certain similarities with her own life. “I went against conventional wisdom to study acting in the UK, where I was on my own, alone and quite lonely,” Razdan recalled. “I drew from my memories of the time. That’s what happens once you get into the role. You find things in common with your past or present. It is no longer about imagining a character and space. But you bring all the experience and understanding you have acquired over the years to the role. It was very exciting to have been challenged this way.Born to a German mother who used to be a nursery school teacher and a Kashmiri architect father, Razdan continues to think of herself as a misfit. “I was at a disadvantage when I tried to be an actor,” she said. It was the late 1970s, when the Hindi film heroine had to pack in a generous amount of oomph in order to be part of male-star driven projects. “There were the likes of Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi, doing extremely glamorous roles, and I did not see myself fitting in.” Rather than try to blend in, Razdan chose to focus on her passion. “My understanding of an actor is simply this – if you want to act, it does not matter what your role is. Whether you are doing a play or a television show. You just act. I don’t know where and when acting became all about being the glamorous babe in movies where all the attention is on the clothes and makeup and very little on the craft.” Razdan says she did not look for lead roles, and the only thing that kept her going was her hunger for acting. “Television, movies, theatre, I did whatever was offered to me,” she explained. “I just wanted to act and I guess this come from my theatre background.” The narrative has been very different for her daughter, who is already a star at 24. Alia Bhatt, who was launched with Student of the Year in 2012, has moved from strength to strength, showing a natural ease with both glamorous and gritty roles. “She is born into a family where her mother and father [Mahesh Bhatt] have already carved out a niche for themselves,” Razdan said. “Unlike me, she came into a business that was ready for her, and since then she has worked with the top production houses in the country. Her life has taken on a different trajectory. Alia tells me that she regrets the fact that she missed out the struggle. I tell her that all this sounds very romantic but you will have your own struggles too.”

Razdan says her daughter may have been fortunate to have been offered the kind of projects that have helped her experiment and grow as an actor, but her life is still a work in progress. “This profession is not without its struggle, and without the struggle you never really touch home base,” Razdan said. “Despite the opportunities, it does not come easy to Alia. We did not know and neither did she know that she will be an actor some day. Life is all about a lot of accidents, after all.” That her daughter has been eclectic in her choice of projects when she could have easily remained cast in the Student Of The Year mould is thanks to her genes, Razdan feels. “Kudos to her for taking up challenging films – she has definitely inherited that renegade gene from her parents,” Razdan said. “At least her father has it in abundance.”

The mother-daughter pair will be seen together on the screen for the first time in Raazi, a spy thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar and adapted from Harinder S Sikka’s novel Calling Sehmat. Razdan plays the mother of Bhatt’s character. “But I cannot play her mother in every film,” Razdan said with a touch of mock despair.

[optimisticprincepainter]

Directors Aparna Sen and Goutam Ghosh mourned the demise of legendary Bollywoodactor Shashi Kapoor. Recalling that Kapoor had produced her first directorial venture ’36 Chowringhee Lane‘ in 1981, Sen said she still remembers how Kapoor used to take care of every single technician of her team and loved them. “I still remember that against the initial agreement to pay me Rs 30,000 for the film, he had paid me Rs 60,000 when ’36 Chowringhee Lane’ was completed. I asked why he doubled the amount, he said please keep this amount with you,” Sen said. She said he had last met Kapoor two years back. “As he was seated on a wheel chair I went near him and introduced myself. He had a blank look and once I said can’t you recognise the director of 36 Chowringhee Lane, his face lit up.” “He used to call me Coppola, after (film maker) Francis Ford Coppola, while I used to call him Sethji. We knew the end will come, but it was shocking,” she said. Goutam Ghosh said Kapoor was a very charming actor and a wonderful person.  “He was a heart throb among the women of our generation,” Ghosh said adding he had once offered to produce a directorial venture of Ghosh. “He had been trained under Geoffrey Kendal and was a theatre buff. He used to run Prithvi theatre in Mumbai,” Ghosh said. Recalling he had met Kapoor countless times in the country and at foreign film festivals, Ghosh recalled, “Once he had made an offer to direct a film under his production,. But as I was busy with the shooting of Antarjali Jatra at that time, a film directed by me under Shashi Kapoor production remained a dream.” Kapoor passed away at the age of 79 at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The Times of  India : 4th. Dec,17

DIRECTORS APARNA SEN AND GOUTAM GHOSH CONDOLED SHASHI KAPOOR’s DEMISE : Directors Aparna Sen and Goutam Ghosh mourned the demise of legendary Bollywoodactor Shashi Kapoor. Recalling that Kapoor had produced her first directorial venture '36 Chowringhee 

[monosko]

CHOWRINGHEE THEATRE & ITS ALTER EGO MRS ESTHER LEACH

CHOWRINGHEE THEATRE & ITS ALTER EGO MRS ESTHER LEACH

[bollywoodirect]

Remembering legendary actor Shashi Kapoor on his 85th birth anniversary (18/03).

Shashi Kapoor, remembered as a gentleman in his personal life, was a distinguished and accomplished actor on both stage and screen, known for his natural talent and versatility. He was also a visionary who had a clear sense of purpose, and his impact on India's social and cultural rejuvenation was unmatched. From producing films for acclaimed directors such as Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani to revitalizing Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre, Kapoor left an indelible mark on the country's artistic landscape.

During a time when women directors were a rare sight in the film industry, Kapoor played a pivotal role in launching Aparna Sen's directorial career by producing her debut film, 36 Chowringhee Lane. This decision helped to pave the way for other women filmmakers to follow in Sen's footsteps, and it exemplified Kapoor's commitment to supporting emerging talent and promoting diversity in Indian cinema.

[monosko]

The Last of the English Theatres in Colonial Calcutta:

The Last of the English Theatres in Colonial Calcutta:

THEATRE ROYAL This is where Lewis’s Theatre Royal stood at 16 Chowringhee next to today’s Grand Hotel Backdrop After a warm farewell at Lyceum Theatre on 31 March 1870 night George Benjamin William Lewis and his wife Rose Edouin Lewis had left for Melbourne with no plan to revisit Calcutta any sooner for renewing the fame and commercial success they achieved during the last two and half a year…

[optimisticprincepainter]

Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor passes away at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 79 Kapoor, who has appeared in a number of Hindi films and a few English-language films, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Art-Cinema. In 2015, he was awarded the 2014 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, making him the third member of his family to receive the highest award in Indian Cinema after Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor. He has also won three National awards.  Shashi Kapoor was the third and youngest son of Prithviraj Kapoor. He made his Bollywood debut in 1961, as the lead actor, in the film Dharmputra.  Born as Balbir Raj Kapoor on March 18, 1938, worked in over 175 films as an actor. He also produced several hit films like Junoon, Kalyug, Vijeta, 36 Chowringhee Lane  and Utsav.  Apart from directing 1991 Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Ajooba, Shashi Kapoor also directed a Russian movie Vozvrashcheniye Bagdadskogo Vora in 1988. Shashi Kapoor started his film career as a child actor. He worked in brother Raj Kapoors  Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951). Shashi Kapoor made his debut as hero in the 1961 film Dharmputra and then went on to rule the Bollywood from till late 1980s. Shashi Kapoors pairing on the silver screen with megastar Amitabh Bachchan was hugely popular and is considered to be one of best till date. The two superstars worked together in some of the biggest hits of Bollywood Deewaar, Suhaag, Kabhie Kabhie, Trishul, Silsila and Namak Halaal. Expressing grief over the demise of the veteran actor, President Ram Nath Kovind underlined that Shashi Kapoor played a pivotal role in the theatre movement in India too.  He wrote on Twitter, “Sorry to hear of the demise of Shashi Kapoor, well-known actor, with a repertoire of Indian and international films. His support for meaningful cinema as a producer and pivotal role in the theatre movement in India too are cherished. Condolences to his family.” Home Minister Rajnath Singh too voiced his sorrow over the veteran actor’s demise. “With his impressive talent and inimitable mannerism actor #ShashiKapoor charmed a generation of Indians. He was a fine actor and a wonderful human being. Saddened to learn of his demise. May his soul rest in peace.” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief at the passing away Kapoor, describing him as a legend. The actor will be remembered for generations, Banerjee said in a tweet message. “Saddened at his passing away. Shashi Kapoor a legend and actor will be remembered for generations for his great work in cinema,” Banerjee said. The Rediff.com : 4th. Dec,17

VETERAN ACTOR SHASHI KAPOOR PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 79 YEARS : Veteran actor Shashi Kapoor passes away at Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 79 Kapoor, who has appeared in a number of Hindi films and a few English-language films, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Art-Cinema.

[bollywoodirect]

Remembering English & Indian actress Jennifer Kendal on her 84th birth anniversary. Jennifer Kapoor (28 February 1933 – 7 September 1984) was an English actress and the founder of the Prithvi Theatre. She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1981 film 36 Chowringhee Lane. Her other film appearances included Bombay Talkie (1970), Junoon (1978), Heat and Dust (1983), and Ghare Baire (1984). Jennifer Kendal was born in Southport, England, but spent much of her youth in India. She and younger sister Felicity Kendal were born to Geoffrey Kendal and Laura Liddell, who ran a travelling theatre company, "Shakespeareana", which traveled around India as depicted in the book and film, Shakespeare Wallah (in which Kendal appeared, uncredited, and which starred her husband Shashi Kapoor, her parents and her sister). Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer met for the first time in Calcutta, in 1956, where he was part of the Prithvi Theatre company, while she was playing Miranda in the play The Tempest, as part of Shakespeareana. Soon, Shashi Kapoor started touring with the Shakespeareana Company, and they married in July 1958. Kendal and her husband were also instrumental in the rejuvenation of Prithvi Theatre in Bombay, with the opening of their theatre in the Juhu area of the city in 1978.[4] Kendal and Kapoor also starred in a number of films together, particularly those produced by Merchant Ivory Productions. Their first joint starring roles were in Bombay Talkie (1970), which was also one of the earlier films produced by Merchant Ivory.