Other States - New Delhi

Talk of the town

This is no ``haadsa''. A true love story, Shahjahan's love for Mumtaz Mahal stands immortalised in marble for over four centuries now. Taking inspiration from this poetry in marble, writer-producer-director Akbar Khan has announced grand plans for a colossal historical film entitled ``Taj Mahal -- An Eternal Love Story''.

The story of the film, is of course, set in the eternally famed era of Indian history and revolves around the universal theme of love. To be shot in a start-to-finish six-month schedule in Jodhpur, where elaborate sets have already been erected since the past five months, the film has been designed to cater to the Indian as well as international market.

As for the cast, it comprises the dashing Kabir Bedi who plays the aging Shahjahan. The beautiful Manisha Koirala plays the loving princess Jahan Ara, the handsome Arbaz Ali plays the just king Jehangir, the ravishing Pooja Batra plays the scheming queen Noorjahan, the sweet Kim Sharma plys the bubbly Laadli Begum and the dynamic Arbaaz Khan plays the strong-headed Aurangzeb. The lead pair of young Shah Jahan and the gorgeous Mumtaz Mahal is being kept a closely guarded secret by Akbar Khan.

While veteran composer Naushad will compose the songs for the film, the internationally acclaimed Yanni is being roped in to provide the musical score. The film is co-written by South African freedom fighter, Fatima Meer, who had earlier penned Nelson Mandela's biography ``Higher Than Hope''.

This magnum opus, scheduled to go on the floors soon, has an estimated budget of over Rs. 50 crores. The film will be released simultaneously in Hollywood after being dubbed in English, thus effectively catering to the Western audience as well.

* * *

Remember Aishwarya Rai in ``Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam''? Well, this film not only brought her the best actress award, but its universal theme of maintaining family values and building human relationships has, in fact, been liked the world over.

When the India Centre, a non-governmental organisation using films as a medium to strengthen cultural relations between India and Japan, introduced the film to an audience in Tokyo as part of a film festival organised last year just before the Prime Minister, Atal Behare Vajpayee 's visit to Tokyo, it had a tremendous response.

On that occasion, two other films -- ``Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman'' and ``Yes Boss'' were also introduced in Japan and Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla went over to Tokyo as cultural ambassadors.

In a similar exercise, and coinciding with the President's visit to Japan, the India Centre has convinced a group of Japanese film-makers to exploit the potential of ``Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'' which is being released in Tokyo with Japanese sub-titles sometimes in mid-April. Aishwarya Rai will also be visiting Japan during that time as cultural ambassador.

``The story of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is something which goes well with Japanese society and that is why we decided to work on releasing this movie in Tokyo,'' says Mr. Vipul Kant Upadhyaya, Chief Executive Officer of the India Centre, adding that the Indian film industry must take advantage of this growing market.

* * *

For students of Tamana School at Vasant Vihar in New Delhi, March 6 was special with a capital S. For not only was it a day when the mentally challenged children of the institution got to meet and spend some time with their role model Tamana Chona, but also honour her.

Tamana, who herself suffers from cerebral palsy, was recently selected as a special Olympics Sargent Shiver Global Messenger for the coming year. Congratulating her in their own personal ways were the children who honoured her with hand-made garlands. The day also saw Tamana felicitating those who had won medals at the recently held Delhi special Olympics.

In her message, Tamana asked the children to continue with their efforts without bothering about winning or losing. Tamana will be attending an orientation and also her first assignment in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

In recognition of her achievements, the Delhi Public School has even decided to appoint her as a nursery school teacher -- a proof of the fact that people with disabilities can be integrated into society.

By K. Kannan and Lakshmi Balakrishnan

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Poll panel directive to MCD
• `Women's Day ? What Women's Day ?....'
• Heart ailments among women
• Talk of the town
• Cong, BJP without a plank
• Liquor inflow on rise

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu