In passing
SUCHITRA BEHAL
Elephant man
There’s more to actor John Abraham than meets the eye. The actor’s latest cause celebre is rehabilitating elephants in Maharashtra for which he has been doing the rounds of political pundits and their hallowed precincts. Of course his persistence and persuasion seems to have paid of since Abraham has managed to get all the requisite permissions he needs as well as an initial Rs. 10,00,000 to set up tracking devices.
Abraham and noted filmmaker-conservationist, Mike Pandey, have joined hands for the project. Both are now actively scouting for forest land in the State where they can build an elephant home. “Though we have got all the permissions from the State Government I am looking for options to arrange for forest land for rehabilitation,” said Abraham.
Meanwhile he’s not worried about his impending projects with films. “Sometimes it takes a while to get rid of certain preconceived tags. I came with the tag of model. However I think and many people say so too, I have managed to break out of that,” said he, adding that he’s happy with whatever work he’s done so far.
Techie attitude
He won the first Oscar for the tribe that ploughs behind the scenes in all those film songs we tap our feet to, but Resul Pookutty feels “the Indian film industry does not recognise technicians because they have also grown used to it.” Quiz him and he explains that technicians “were always considered lesser beings and most do not even bother to try and change that.”
He admits that receiving the Oscar has been heady but says nothing has changed. “Imagine just four days after my getting the Oscar I was in Mumbai and an awards ceremony was being held. The organisers did not think it necessary to invite me,” Pookutty drove home his point. He insists that India does not lack in technical expertise. But it is the “attitude” that needs to undergo a sea change. “There is zero appreciation, hence little motivation to excel,” he added .
Aside of “Slumdog…”, his life had changed a lot. “From being a small town guy I have reached this bustling city. I have managed to find a place for myself in the industry.” But he’s not resting on past laurels, instead he’s looking forward to a better innings.
For the Marathi manoos
Mahesh Manjrekar is not exactly gloating over his recent success. But he certainly is clued in to the politics of the region. However as Manjrekar explains, Both Marathis and non-Marathis liked ‘Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy’, so my message must have got across.” He insists he’s not perpetrating regional politics. Mumbai, he says, has already got more than its share of migrants. “This city can’t take any more; that is what I want to say. I do not think any community would mind if we had a five per cent reservation for the Marathis,” said Manjrekar in a recent interview. But he’s not laying the blame fair and square on the others. He feels that Marathis ought to have been a little more enterprising as well as industrious. So is it politics for him any time soon? “Oh no but I do think we have to be actively involved. Pull up those who do not perform. Why should there be no qualifications or retirement age for politicians? Only then will new blood come,” said he
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