eNewsroom India Logo
Search here...

To shoot or not – That’s the question

Diganta Guha
-
0
To shoot or not – That’s the question

Kolkata: There are occasions when authorities in positions of power baffle you with actions that are bereft of sagacity. It may sound rude but the threat of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to not send the Indian contingent to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (2022) as a reaction to the organisers’ decision to exclude shooting, smacks of apathy towards other sports. The IOA has also threatened to withdraw from hosting the Games in 2026. You are left looking for any judicious reason to support this high-handedness that completely undermines the potential of other sportspersons. Let me explain why.

Even at the cost of incurring animosity, exclusion of one sport should not lead to complete withdrawal especially from a prestigious event like the CWC. If we go by rules then there is no loophole in the games committee’s decision. It is well within its jurisdiction to choose from a list of optional disciplines that also includes shooting.

According to CWC rules, 16 disciplines are a must at the games and entry of the rest (optional sports) is left to the discretion of the hosts. The Birmingham committee has included archery, women’s cricket, para table tennis and beach volleyball which have been approved by the executive board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). According to reports, absence of infrastructure is the reason behind exclusion of shooting which has been part of the CWC since the Kingston Games in 1960 except at Edinburgh (1970).

In view of this, you cannot pillory the Birmingham Games committee for leaving out shooting. But the IOA seems firm on its threat and hasn’t shown any signs to soften the stance.

Though Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju has expressed confidence that the CWC members have taken their concern seriously, it remains to be seen how things unfold in the days to come. The CGF meanwhile issued a statement, “The CGF appreciates the concerns expressed by India about the non-inclusion of shooting as a competitive event at Birmingham 2022 and we are committed to working together for finding a solution to this.”

The recent meeting between CWC delegates (CGF head Louise Martin and CEO David Grevemberg) and IOA members hasn’t set the ball rolling as Narinder Batra, president, IOA is in no mood to budge. Interestingly, not just India, according to BBC, some 30,000 shooting fans have requested the CGF to have a re-look at the decision of leaving out shooting.

Though Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju has expressed confidence that the CWC members have taken their concern seriously, it remains to be seen how things unfold in the days to come. The CGF meanwhile issued a statement, “The CGF appreciates the concerns expressed by India about the non-inclusion of shooting as a competitive event at Birmingham 2022 and we are committed to working together for finding a solution to this.”

It is true that shooting has been a lucrative discipline for India at the CWC. The last games at Gold Coast had our shooters bagging 16 medals. But are non-shooters so incapable of winning laurels that earth crumbles if shooting does not make the cut in one edition of the games? The IOA’s stance is a blatant expression of lack or absence of trust and confidence in representatives of other disciplines. It also amounts to depriving the rest of an attempt to glory. It is sheer obstinacy that does not augur well for the future of sports in our country.

At the Gold Coast Games last year, India ranked third with 66 medals (including 16 in shooting). So, the majority have been bagged by our non-shooters. Indian cricketers have been at the receiving end for enjoying a demi-God status while other sporting personalities are relegated to the background. If ignoring our non-cricketing stars is not condoned, neither should be the obsession with one sport at the expense of several others in which our country has had commendable performances.

However, Olympic bronze-winner Gagan Narang doesn’t see any rationale behind the hue and cry over the removal of shooting. “I don’t see it as a setback, it’s not a negative thing. If you look at cricket, it’s not there in the Olympics, not even in the Commonwealth Games, but the sport is thriving on its own. Even squash, for that matter, that is also doing well on its own,” Narang was quoted by Sportstar.

Batra doesn’t endorse the word boycott though. He is keen on complete withdrawal. “I’m not in favour of the word boycott. In sports, you never use the word boycott. My fundamental principle is either we withdraw permanently or go and compete,” Batra was quoted in the media. According to him, CWC overall is a waste of money also questioning the standards of CWC.

Reactions in general have been of pique and disappointment. For example, shooter Anjum Modgil expressing her dismay, told IANS, “This issue has been going on for quite some time. It is not good because this is a very big event for Indian shooting. We have no choice but to go with (the CGF’s) decision. The NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) did whatever they could to prevent this but there is little one can do once the higher authorities have made their minds. They have their reasons which is why this decision has been made.”

However, Olympic bronze-winner Gagan Narang doesn’t see any rationale behind the hue and cry over the removal of shooting. “I don’t see it as a setback, it’s not a negative thing. If you look at cricket, it’s not there in the Olympics, not even in the Commonwealth Games, but the sport is thriving on its own. Even squash, for that matter, that is also doing well on its own,” Narang was quoted by Sportstar.

The executive committee meeting of the IOA on November 23 is crucial where the withdrawal will be discussed and debated. But the final call rests with the Union government. Hopefully, our powers that be would respect the sentiments of all sides before giving their verdict and that should be in favour of India’s participation at the Birmingham Games. Won’t that be a cogent one?

Hotel Mumbai, narrates the fight India put up against its worst terrorist attack

ScribeShah
-
0
Hotel Mumbai, narrates the fight India put up against its worst terrorist attack

Kolkata: The two-hour-three-minute long docu-drama of debutant director Anthony Maras is strong, subdued, nerve-wrecking thriller that keeps the audience at the edge of the seat. The film begins with a British-Muslim heiress Zahara (Nazanain Bonaidi), her American husband David (Armie Hammer), child Cameroon and his nanny Sally (Tilda Cobham) arriving at the Hotel, where every hotel staff believes – Guest is God.

The couple opts for a romantic dinner, leaving the child under the guardianship of Sally. Seated next to the couple is an obnoxiously sleazy Russian businessman played by Jason Isaacs. Unknown to the elite guests of the hotel, already two spots (CST and Leopold Cafe) have already been attacked by terrorists and their sub-group comprising four members have already entered the hotel along with those have escaped the Leopold Cafe.

The film, throughout the narration, never discloses the identity of the terrorists as members of the Lashkar-e-Toiba group, till the end credits rolls in. The director, who is also the co-screenplay writer of the film, uses his character, many of which he has claimed to be fictionalised ones, inspired by real people, barring Anupam Kher’s character – Chef Hemant Oberoi, who along with Arjun (Dev Patel), one of the hotel servers, plays a pivotal role to save a large number of their guests.

With a taut plot, which grips the audience, the narrative is both hard-hitting and nerve-wreaking for the Indian audience, who have witnessed the horror in 2008, by seeing the live news updates of the three-day-long battle that ensue between the terrorists holed up in the hotel and Mumbai police force along with the Indian armed forces.

The merciless voice of the commander-in-chief of the terrorist attack, addressed as the Bull, is seen as the main orchestrator of the attack, continually directing the brainwashed terrorist to execute the attack. The attackers are continually reminded of their good deed and how the world is watching them wreak havoc, live.

The film inspired by 52-minute long documentary Surviving Mumbai, directed and co-scripted by Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras, recounts the pain, trauma and fight put up by tourists and staffs of luxury hotel Taj Mahal when terrorist attacked the hotel along with 11 other spots in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. The film briefly touches upon terrorist attacks that took place in Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Leopold Cafe, which also happened on the same night.

The film becomes a bit difficult to watch for even the bravest person watching the film. The subdued, yet near-perfect performances of the character impact the audience, who not just witnesses, but after a certain becomes part of the journey of the characters, some of whom get slain and some rescued.

The film captures it all, right from the helplessness of the not-well equipped Mumbai Police, who despite all enter the hotel to gain access to the hotel’s CCTV room to get details of the terrorists, which later helped the Special forces that arrived from Delhi for their rescue. The anger of the public for delayed army operation and the horror of the 72-hour-long siege is well augmented with the judicious use of the real news footages.

However, stands out among all is the emergence of extraordinary humans from ordinary men. Patel and Kher deliver their performances with deft perfection, while Hammer, Bonaidi, Cobham relay the panic, pain, confusion and fear among the guests with perfection.

The filmmaker through his terrorist character Imran played by Indian actor Amardeep Singh, shows, how poor youths are brainwashed to execute these act of terror. The scene, where Imran, who has been hit on his leg by a police bullet, on realising that his end is close, calls up his parents to ask if they had received the promised money for him doing his act or when Imran refuses to kill Zahra, while she is offering Salah, despite Bull clearly saying that it doesn’t matter if he kills a fellow Muslim. The scene thereby clearly stating that terrorism has no religion.

The film will hit you hard and will have a lingering effect on your mind. The filmmaker and actors along with the background score composers have put in an earnest effort to deliver a near-real experience of the 72-hour-long siege of the luxury hotel.

ovo88 slot

Given that the film will be releasing at a time that coincides with the 11th anniversary of the dastardly terror attack, it becomes a must-watch to salute the bravery of ordinary people during the attack. A word of caution, be prepared for the film to touch upon the raw nerve of every Indian, who has stoically watched the chaos wreaked upon India and chose to be resilient.

Mark Taylor is the best captain I have seen: Simon Taufel

Diganta Guha
-
0
Mark Taylor is the best captain I have seen: Simon Taufel

Kolkata: He needs no introduction, does he? As part of the ICC Elite Umpire Panel, his record stands impeccable. And a five-time winner of the ICC Umpire of the Year Award, Australian Simon Taufel is revered and acclaimed as one of the best the game of cricket has ever seen.

And the man showed his erudite side during an interactive session at the Techno India University on Thursday evening. He spoke extensively about leadership and what it means to him. But who according to him is the best leader of the lot he has seen? It might sound surprising but he has his reasons to validate. “In my view Mark Taylor was an outstanding leader, who always put his team’s interest ahead even at the cost of his own milestones,” said the former umpire from Sydney who has officiated in 74 Tests, 174 ODIs and 34 T20Is.

As an anecdote, he talked about the 1998 Peshawar Test (between Australia and Pakistan) when Taylor unbeaten on 334 having equalled Sir Don Bradman’s record, refused to take guard the next day to give his bowlers a chance to have a go at the opponents. “That’s too me is leadership,” he said adding that he also held former Sri Lankan star Mahela Jayawardene in the highest esteem as a captain. “If the team failed, he would take the onus, but if his team won, he would give credit to his players. To me that was incredible,” said Taufel who has recently launched his book Finding the Gaps the foreward of which has been written by Sachin Tendulkar.

Coming back to captaincy, Taufel is in awe of current Indian skipper Virat Kohli. “He is somebody who would never ask his teammates to do something he wouldn’t or can’t do. Now, that’s the mark of a great leader who calls the shots from the front,” said Taufel amid applause from the audiences.

Elaborating on his experience as an umpire, Taufel said he always ensured that his co-umpire at the other end felt at home. And he has fond memories of Kiwi umpire Billy Bowden. “He would always come into my room and see how it was. He had the best hotel, best rooms always,” Taufel informed the gathering that included a mix of students and teachers from the University.

Coming back to captaincy, Taufel is in awe of current Indian skipper Virat Kohli. “He is somebody who would never ask his teammates to do something he wouldn’t or can’t do. Now, that’s the mark of a great leader who calls the shots from the front,” said Taufel amid applause from the audiences.

Towards the end of session, Taufel had to face a barrage of questions that were expected to be answered in one lines or in other words a rapid fire round at the behest of jewellery designer Nilanjana Chakraborty. “Why are my answers too long?” he asked, but was at his wittiest best while facing the rapid fire.

“Like Virat, Sourav is a passionate man, he is passionate about the game and I hope he can take his passion to BCCI. He is also a decision maker and will make decisions to get things done,” said Taufel.

Rahul Dravid to him was stubborn with the bat. Anil Kumble was foul mouthed. MS Dhoni was all about composure. Steve Waugh was one of the toughest cricketers on the field, but one of the most generous off it. “Sachin to me is not the God of Indian cricket, but he deserves respect for his longevity, capability and humility,” he said adding that Virat to him is a complex personality, but he is always driven by the passion to prove something.

Taufel was in Kolkata, a day before history will be scripted at the Eden Gardens tomorrow with India’s inaugural day-night Test and one couldn’t let him go without seeking his views on the Prince of Calcutta, Sourav Ganguly, who deserves kudos for taking this initiative to bolster the spirit of the five-day format by getting India to agree to play under the lights.

“Like Virat, Sourav is a passionate man, he is passionate about the game and I hope he can take his passion to BCCI. He is also a decision maker and will make decisions to get things done,” said Taufel whose first international match as an official was an ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka way back in 1999 at Sydney and his debut in Test was the Boxing Day match involving Australia and West Indies at Melbourne in 2000.

And before winding up the session, he put it honestly. “As BCCI president, Sourav will be judged by his actions.” And we couldn’t agree more.

Let Test Cricket be the ultimate winner

Diganta Guha
-
0
Let Test Cricket be the ultimate winner

Kolkata: The stage is all set. It’s just hours before Eden Gardens, Kolkata once again etches its name in history. Come November 22, the Mecca of Indian cricket will host the maiden Test match in the country under lights with the pink ball. It will be game on between India and Bangladesh albeit with a huge twist. The red ball makes way for its pink counterpart that will ask quite a few questions to cricketers.

At a time, when the oldest format of the game was in dire need of redemption, Test matches (11 have been played so far) with the pink ball, have come to its rescue. India though took some time before agreeing to this format, but all’s well that ends well.

Amid the glitz and pomp, the real charm of Test cricket should not get a beating. It’s after all serious business and by no means can we repudiate that. In this context, it is pertinent to mention how the Indian Premier League (IPL) is castigated and doubts are raised on the motive behind the cash-rich tournament. “It’s a circus, by the way,” that’s the common view.

Will Day-Night Test cricket go the IPL way? It would be a shame if the game is compromised for commercial purposes and alluring people to the ground. A cricketer is not held in the highest esteem, if he is a failure in the five-day format. And there are plenty of examples in Indian cricket itself – Yuvraj Singh, Mohd Kaif, Suresh Raina and even Shikhar Dhawan. In fact, greatness is measured in terms of one’s achievements in Test matches despite the advent of the truncated versions of the game.

Well, you can’t blame the critics since the event despite being a happy-hunting ground to spot talents, has had its share of controversies. Be it the after-match parties, presence of DJs on the ground or cheerleaders bringing the oomph factor or the inter-mingling of cricket and Bollywood, the real sufferer is the game of cricket, as anti-IPL factions are of the view. And add to them, the ghost of match fixing that has blemished the credibility of the tournament.

Will Day-Night Test cricket go the IPL way? It would be a shame if the game is compromised for commercial purposes and alluring people to the ground. A cricketer is not held in the highest esteem, if he is a failure in the five-day format. And there are plenty of examples in Indian cricket itself – Yuvraj Singh, Mohd Kaif, Suresh Raina and even Shikhar Dhawan. In fact, greatness is measured in terms of one’s achievements in Test matches despite the advent of the truncated versions of the game.

Batsmen are not pampered with field restrictions in Tests and the real battle starts then and there. Bat against three slips and a gully as the bowlers runs fast and pitches it hard. The pitches outside the sub continent are hard and bouncy and to stand up to such adversities takes a sound temperament and determination. It’s not a gamble like in the ODIs and T20s.

Keeping the tradition of Test cricket in mind, there could be a fright that the paraphernalia may overshadow the game. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has big plans to mark the historic occasion. The august presence of political leaders, former cricketers and renowned Indian sporting personalities means the inauguration will be an unforgettable affair. The sentiment and euphoria are understandable since it is going to be the first Test under lights in the country, but if you are an avid follower of the game especially the longest format, you would be keener to see how the two teams handle the conditions that were alien to them all this while. All eyes will be on the middle eventually.

Pink-ball cricket is different business as the batters would have to adjust to the movement of the ball which will be sharper than that of the red cherry. Watching the ball till the end and not committing early would make the difference. Similarly, bowlers would take time to acclimatise to the pink ball and spinners could find going tough to spin it around because of the extra lacquer applied to keep the ball visible under the lights. For pacers though, the swing will last for a longer period.

It is imperative that off-field activities are restricted and the game of cricket remains the real focus not just at the Eden Gardens but any venue that hosts a Test match under lights. We Indians have a tendency to get swayed by profligacy – the IPL being a glaring example. To put it succinctly, let the game be the real winner. A strict vigilance to not let notorious elements cast a slur on the game is a must, in other words, precautionary measures should be taken to avert any untoward incident i.e. match-fixing.

Pink-ball cricket is different business as the batters would have to adjust to the movement of the ball which will be sharper than that of the red cherry. Watching the ball till the end and not committing early would make the difference. Similarly, bowlers would take time to acclimatise to the pink ball and spinners could find going tough to spin it around because of the extra lacquer applied to keep the ball visible under the lights. For pacers though, the swing will last for a longer period.

The reason for delving into the technical aspect is to bring to light the fact that it’s not going to be a cakewalk for either side. With the game evenly poised, Test cricket will produce results as we have seen in the 11 Test matches played under lights so far. However, officials should ensure that in a bid to up the exhilaration level, the game of cricket does not take a backseat. Let’s hope that pink-ball Test matches become a regular affair and redefines Test cricket. Let’s pray that Test cricket doesn’t fall prey to the rising demand of the consumer. Let’s wish that Test cricket does not submit before superficialities.

At the end of the day, the stature of the five-day format should not be left languishing in the dumps as extravagance takes over.

Black marketers arrested selling India-Bangladesh first day-night test match tickets

ScribeShah
-
0
Black marketers arrested selling India-Bangladesh first day-night test match tickets

Kolkata: On the eve of historic first-ever Day-Night Test cricket to be played in India at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkatans seems to have gone back to Seventies and Eighties. Yes, you heard that right. Like the gone era, when test cricket tickets used to be in high demands and often tickets would even be sold at exorbitant rates to the cricket lovers.


With the advent of the shorter format of cricket- One Day International (ODI) and Twenty-Twenty (T20) overs match, there was a visible decline in the interest for test cricket. However, with former Captain of Indian cricket team, Sourav Ganguly donning the role of Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) President, agreed to have the first pink-ball day-night test match in India.

On November 20, an Anti-Rowdy Squad and Detective Department (ARS and DD) team, arrested around six people from the area surrounding Eden Gardens. The accused were black marketing India-Bangladesh Test Match. When arrested, they had around 38 tickets in possession.

The Joint CP (crime) Murlidhar Sharma informed, “Our team had been keeping a watch around Eden Gardens to conduct its drive against black marketing of tickets of the Test match between India and Bangladesh. During the drive, a total six(6) persons were arrested for ticket blacking and thirty-eight (38) tickets were seized from their possession. All of them were taken to Maidan P.S. for prosecution.”

While Honorary Joint Secretary of Cricket Association of Bengal, Debarata Das told eNewsroom, “There has been a phenomenal sale in the Test Cricket Ticket after a long time. As per official data from the box office, the tickets for the first three days have been completely sold out.” On being asked, about the black marketing of the ticket, he said, “We are not aware of this (blacking of ticket). However, we have asked the box office to be careful about not selling tickets to black marketers.”

He added, “We have taken care to ensure that the ticket is distributed carefully. We first gave tickets to the life members, then associate members, then clubs and universities. As for the sale, we can’t monitor the online or box office sale. But it feels good to see so much interest in test cricket once again.”

Recalling the bygone era, when Test Cricket was very much in vogue, former Bengal Captain Sambaran Banerjee, said, “In the Seventies and Eighties when there was no T20, IPL and limited ODI matches, people of Kolkata wait for December for the Test matches to be played. Back then, people used to buy tickets in black. So, if I am being told that tickets are being blacked, it means the interest is back, may be because of the new format. But, it would be interesting to watch whether the match between India and Bangladesh played beyond three days.”

BJP leader Vs BJP CM in Jamshedpur East

ScribeShah
-
0
BJP leader Vs BJP CM in Jamshedpur East

Ranchi: Now it’s clear that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has not only to contest with opposition candidate at Jamshedpur East assembly constituency, but also his own party leader and former minister – Saryu Roy in the Jharkhand assembly polls.

On Monday, November 18, both Raghubar Das and Saryu Roy, a former cabinet minister in Das’ cabinet filed their candidatures from Jamshedpur East seat.

Three times MLA, Roy, was BJP legislator from Jamshedpur West. However, he was denied party ticket in this assembly polls. Roy has been constantly raising corruption and other issues of Raghubar government. Now, the rebel BJP leader will contest against Jharkhand CM on Jamshedpur East seat, where Das is a sitting MLA. Roy will also be contesting from Jamshedpur West.

Before filing his papers, Roy has resigned both from minister-ship as well as legislator’s position. However, so far, neither has he left BJP nor has the party taken any action against him.

Before filing his nominations, former Jamshedpur West MLA addressed a gathering and said, “I started my political career from JP Andolan. Party says there should be a movement against corruption, PM also says that there will be zero tolerance against corruption, but when I say that there should be a movement against corruption, then my statement goes against the government.”

Roy further said, “Whatever issues I have raised, only 5 per cent has been reported by the media, 95 per cent resides in the files only. I believe all those information should be made public.”

“There is an environment of fear in Jamshedpur. And there is pollution too. These issues should not be ignored. But saying so, my ticket has been put on hold. So the person who made it all this happen, I decided to stand against him. I will file nominations from both Jamshedpur East and West Assembly segments as an independent candidate,” he added.

A good number of supporters followed Roy as he went to file his nominations, but this time they were all sporting the Tri-Colour, instead of BJP’s saffron flag.

Post nominations, Roy was more harsh and claimed that he would get the fourth chief minister of Jharkhand jailed. Roy has been credited with exposing scams which sent former chief ministers—Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jagganath Mishra and Madhu Koda, behind the bars.

However, Raghubar Das is yet to react to Roy contesting elections against him.

But this is not the only challenge that the Jharkhand CM has to face, Congress candidate Gourav Vallabh too, looks all set to give the CM a tough fight. Gourav, a professor of XLRI, Jamshedpur is also Congress’ national spokesperson.

Gourav is the joint candidate from gathbandhan. The grand old party has an alliance with Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha (JMM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for the Jharkhand elections.

Bengali Muslims seek answers for their less percentage in jobs, stereotype in Bengali Cinema

ScribeShah
-
0
Bengali Muslims seek answers for their less percentage in jobs, stereotype in Bengali Cinema

Kolkata: Not many would know about the Hunter Commission set up by the British to prepare a report on why Indian Muslims were revolting against their regime, just like the Sachar Commission was asked to study the issues that plague the Muslims community. And after the report was filed, the British aligned with progressive Muslims and encouraged the community to embrace English education, unlike the governments of today, who are yet to act on the recommendation made by the Sachar Commission.

Also, many of us wouldn’t have also thought for a second, about the complete absence of Bengali Muslims in Bangla Films and serials. This comes as surprise, given the fact that Tollywood is considered as progressive, while the negligible presence of Muslims in government jobs in Bengal, no longer is a secret.

These and many more thought provoking topic was discussed for the first time in Kolkata, during a two-day international conference Bengali Muslims at a crossroad. The conference was organised by Aliah University in association with Bengali Academia for Social Empowerment (BASE) at the Park Circus Campus of Aliah University. The event had a number of Bengali Academics presenting their research papers to academically reclaim the lost status of the Bengali Muslim in both West Bengal and India.

Over 50 academic research were presented before the audience, covering issues like Unemployment among the Muslims in West Bengal, Representation of Bengali Muslims in Bangla Films in Contemporary West Bengal, A Peep into the Jenana Mehfil: Bengali Muslim Women and their Wedding Centric Songs, Faith, Food and YouTube: Bengali Muslim Identity and Food Videos During Eid in Kolkata, The Identity Crisis of Bengali Muslims (West Bengal): After Partition and more.

Dr Maidul Islam added, “During my on-going research, I was even amazed to see, even sensitive filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Tapan Sinha, have failed to the Bengali Muslims a decent place in Bengali Cinema.” Citing examples he said, “While Tapan Sinha’s film never had a Bengali Muslim character. Those who will remind me about Kabuliwala, need to understand, that the Kabuliwala was an Afghan Muslim and not a Bengali Muslim. Ghatak’s film made films on Hindu Bangladeshi refugees but chose to neglect the Bengali Muslim, while Ray, in his film Hirak Rajar Deshe had a character called Abu Fazal, who was a peasant.

Dr Maidul Islam, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, presented an interesting paper, stressed upon – Representation of Bengali Muslims in Bangla Films in Contemporary Bengal. While presenting the paper, he said, “Post partition, Bengali Muslims have been conspicuously missing from Bengali Cinema. If you scan through the history of Bangla Films, you will see there are no films with Muslim characters as the protagonist. I call this phenomenon as Missing Muslims. Also, I have observed, during my research that Muslim characters if any in the film are increasingly being depicted as anti-social or terrorist. Also, there are specific stereotypes while representing Muslim characters. Like they must sport a beard and wear a skull cap.” Then he went on to add, “Such sketchy or biased representation only helps in creating a wrong perception about Muslims in general.”

sachar committee bengali muslims cinema jobs politics education
Participants at the two-day event

He added, “During my on-going research, I was even amazed to see, even sensitive filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Tapan Sinha, have failed to the Bengali Muslims a decent place in Bengali Cinema.” Citing examples he said, “While Tapan Sinha’s film never had a Bengali Muslim character. Those who will remind me about Kabuliwala, need to understand, that the Kabuliwala was an Afghan Muslim and not a Bengali Muslim. Ghatak’s film made films on Hindu Bangladeshi refugees but chose to neglect the Bengali Muslim, while Ray, in his film Hirak Rajar Deshe had a character called Abu Fazal, who was a peasant.

The trend continues in present Tollywood cinema, where the filmmakers might introduce a Muslim character, but often they are non-Bengali Muslims. For example, Nandita Roy’s Haami had a Muslim character – Chacha Jaan, who was shown as skull cap-wearing, Hindi speaking Muslim. In Mishwar Rohoshyo, the Muslim character was an Egyptian Muslim, in Rajkahini, Rituparna Sengupta was Hindi speaking prostitute, while Kabir had a Muslim terrorist.”

According to Maidul, Hoi Choi Unlimited’s Azam Khan – a car mechanic, Mrinal Sen’s Amar Bhuban, Nobendu Chatterjee’s Monsur Miyaar Ghoda are some of the Bangla Cinema that can have been kind enough to give realistic celluloid representation to the Bengali Muslim.

Dr Mosarraph Hossain Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Presidency University, drew a parallel between the present time and the 1870s when the British government commissioned the Hunter Commission, just like the decade-old Sachar Committee Report to understand what was making the Muslim to revolt against the regime. “It was after this report that the British aligned with the progressive Muslims and encouraged the community to embrace English education. However, post-partition, most of the Muslim intellectuals moved on to Pakistan and Bangladesh (East Pakistan). The Bengali Muslims who stayed back were poor and not intellectually sound and lacked a proper middle-class community. However, with time, a middle class is emerging among the Bengali Muslims who stayed back in India, when Partition happened. This is the right time for us to reclaim our identity.”

A similar presentation by Samiya Roshni, a PhD scholar from Vidyasagar University, tried to highlight the Representation of Muslims in Bengali Television Serials. “After the partition, in the post – Independence era, Bengali Muslims never acquired a prominent space on Bengali silver screen, unlike Hindi cinema where Muslims were represented adequately both on-screen and off-screen. And whenever Muslims were represented in the narrow cinematic space, they were depicted mostly as a marginalized section of the society. This representation is the outcome of certain cultural hegemony, religious identity and its power structure and market economy,” noted Samiya.

Meanwhile, Dr Mosarraph Hossain Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Presidency University, drew a parallel between the present time and the 1870s when the British government commissioned the Hunter Commission, just like the decade-old Sachar Committee Report to understand what was making the Muslim to revolt against the regime. “It was after this report that the British aligned with the progressive Muslims and encouraged the community to embrace English education. However, post-partition, most of the Muslim intellectuals moved on to Pakistan and Bangladesh (East Pakistan). The Bengali Muslims who stayed back were poor and not intellectually sound and lacked a proper middle-class community. However, with time, a middle class is emerging among the Bengali Muslims who stayed back in India, when Partition happened. This is the right time for us to reclaim our identity.”

sachar committee bengali muslims cinema jobs politics education
A woman participant asks question during the event

Sabir Ahamed, research coordinator of Pratichi, in his presentation Unemployment among the Muslims in West Bengal, chose to highlight, how even today, Bengal, despite its higher Muslim population, has very few Muslims as flag-bearers in government institutions. “Despite people accusing Mamata Banerjee of Muslim appeasement, I am unable to see its reflection in number of Muslims being employed in government sector,” said Ahamed, while talking to eNewsroom.

He then went on to explain, “Look at the data revealed through one of my RTI application. The latest Staff Census of Bengal government shows percentage of Muslims employed in Government sector is as little as 5.3, 4.24, 2.66, in Kolkata, Howrah and Purulia, to name a few. I won’t deny that female recruitment has improved and so has the female percentage for higher education. But what about a huge chunk of Bengali Muslim men who migrate from Bengal on a regular basis, in search of better work? No data is being maintained by the government on the huge number of these Bengali Muslim men, who are drop outs.”

He then asserted, “There is a huge need for Bengali Muslim representation in Bengal Politics, and so is the need to increase the number of job openings. In KMC alone the percentage of Muslim appointment has shrunk to a mere 5.29 per cent in the year 2019.

Meanwhile, speaking to eNewsroom, Abdul Matin, treasurer, BASE and co-convener of the conference, said, “This is a way of academically recording the issues, problems or development of the Bengali Muslims in India and also to offer a platform to researchers, where they can present their academic findings.”

Sujan Mukhopadhyay: Like an Uttam Kumar fan, I had taken ‘part’ in a FB contest and got the role

ScribeShah
-
0
Sujan Mukhopadhyay: Like an Uttam Kumar fan, I had taken ‘part’ in a FB contest and got the role

Kolkata: In this exclusive interview, popular actor Sujan Mukhopadhyay (Neel) who has traversed the world of theatre, serial and cinema talks about his experiences of playing the titular role in the forthcoming docu-feature – Jete Nahi Dibo – a tribute to ‘Mahanayak’ Uttam Kumar. He also shares why November 22 will be a special day for him.

eNewsroom: Let’s start with November 22, 2019. It is going to be a special day for you…

Sujan: (Smiles) Oh! Absolutely. I am avidly waiting for November 22. It is indeed going to be a very special day for two reasons. Reason one: Jete Nahi Dibo a docu-feature, based on the life of our beloved ‘Mahanayak’ Uttam Kumar will be releasing on that day. It is directed by Prabir Roy and I have had the good fortune of playing ‘Uttam Kumar’ on screen for the first time. Reason two: Our theatre group Chetana will be celebrating its 47th birthday on that very day. To mark this occasion, we will be putting up a special show of our new play Rani Creusa, written by Bratya Basu and directed by me. I would also like to share some wonderful news with regards to Rani Creusa, but will inform the readers about it during the course of this interview.

eNewsroom: Well, before we talk in detail about the docu-feature and Rani Creusa, allow us to congratulate you for winning this year’s Ramaprasad Banik Memorial Award at the recently concluded Purba Paschim Theatre Festival.

Sujan: Thank you so much. It was definitely an emotional moment for me. Although, I did not get the honour to share the stage with Ramada, but it was an enriching experience to attend the voice modulation workshops that he conducted for our theatre group – Chetana, founded by my father Arun Mukhopadhyay. Interestingly, I got the opportunity to work with him in the immensely popular megaserial – Janmabhumi. Ramada had also directed the television adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s short story, Goyenda and he had asked me to join this venture. I was in awe. We had a wonderful time during its making.

During the filming I learnt that Uttambabu was not allowed to smoke during the later years of his life. Cigarette was a big ‘NO’ for him, so, instead of lighting one, he would simply smell it. He used to play the harmonium and also sing a particular Rabindrasangeet whenever he was sad. As his friend and confidant, Prabirda has been a treasure trove of information. For example, he informed us how Uttambabu had the habit of changing punjabi (kurta) several times during the course of an evening since he disliked sporting sweat-stained punjabis. The audience will have to watch the docu-feature to learn more.

eNewsroom: Tell our readers about Jete Nahi Dibo.

Sujan: The director of this docu-feature, Prabir Roy was very close to Uttam Kumar during the last ten years of his life. Prabirda was with him till his death. This venture is his tribute to Uttam Kumar. It is not a biopic and this docu-feature which has been in the making for two years now has been made on a very limited budget, but Prabirda has incorporated many unknown information and myriad facets of the Mahanayak as much as one can in this format. During his lifetime, Uttam Kumar enjoyed a larger-than-life stature. He still does. To the world, he was an iconic actor, but he was a real person whose life was laced with happiness, sadness, success and downfalls. This docu-feature will enable fans of the Mahanayak to see the the human and humane side of both the man and the actor.

eNewsroom: Share with our readers a few information about Uttam Kumar that you learnt during the making of the docu-feature.

Sujan: Let’s see. There are so many… Okay, during the filming I learnt that Uttambabu was not allowed to smoke during the later years of his life. Cigarette was a big ‘NO’ for him, so, instead of lighting one, he would simply smell it. He used to play the harmonium and also sing a particular Rabindrasangeet whenever he was sad. As his friend and confidant, Prabirda has been a treasure trove of information. For example, he informed us how Uttambabu had the habit of changing punjabi (kurta) several times during the course of an evening since he disliked sporting sweat-stained punjabis. The audience will have to watch the docu-feature to learn more.

Bengali Cinema Sujan Mukhopadhyay Jete Nahi Dibo Uttam Kumar
Sujan Mukhopadhyay in a scene of Jete Nahi Dibo

eNewsroom: Will one get to see you right from the very beginning of the docu-feature?

Sujan: No. I play the mature Uttam Kumar. My role starts from the day when he arrived at Surpriya Devi’s house in his trademark punjabi and pyjama. Except for the clothes on his back, he had left everything else behind.

eNewsroom: Have you ever met Uttam Kumar in real life?

Sujan: There is a photograph of me with him. I was very young then. Uttambabu had come to see a play of our group -Chetana – but I do not remember much about that meeting.

eNewsroom: Were you surprised when you were asked to play Uttam Kumar?

Sujan: (Laughs) More than you can imagine! There is actually an interesting story behind this. There was a ‘fun contest’ going on Facebook where one had to recreate Uttam Kumar’s famous ‘sunglass look’ from one of his all-time greatest hits – Nayak, directed by Satyajit Ray. Out of the four photographs, one was original one, the remaining three were ‘lookalikes’ and one had to guess which one is the original photograph. Well, like a true blue Uttam Kumar fan, I had taken ‘part’ in this contest and many had pegged my picture as the original one! Prabirda had seen this photograph and decided to approach me.

eNewsroom: As an actor, this must have been an immense challenge for you. Before you Prosenjit Chatterjee had donned the mantle of ‘Uttam Kumar’ in the serial Mahanayak, directed by Birsa Dasgupta and recently Jisshu U Sengupta played him in Mahalaya, directed by Soumik Sen…

Sujan: …I think that both Bumbada (Prosenjit Chatterjee) and Jisshu have done an amazing job.  See, every time a biopic or a docu-feature is made – be it on Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy or Rabindrabath Tagore or any other great personality, the actor portraying them has to brace himself or herself for the audience’s comparison and eventual verdict. But despite all that, it is an honour to get selected and essay the role of an icon. There is no way you can replace the original person, but you can play him or her in the best manner possible. I am not ‘the’ Uttam Kumar. I will never be, but as an actor I have tried to do justice to the role and portray certain nuances of his character and characteristics to the best of my ability. For me, it was both a challenge and a fulfilling experience.

eNewsroom: Why do you think that the serial – Mahanayak -which was based on his life did not work?

Sujan: It is difficult to state as to why certain serials work and certain don’t. It is the peoples’ decision. All the makers can do is abide by their verdict. I have not seen all the episodes, but I feel that the vision of the serial got a bit blurred. I have heard people say that the serial had too much masala and that did not go down well with the masses. There is always a tussle when one is making movies or serials or even documentaries based on the lives of the great people. For a filmmaker who wants to be true to the character and also to his or her craft, this becomes a challenge. There can be problem with too much glorification and he or she can be hauled up for showcasing the character with all his or her flaws. This is indeed a tightrope walk.

Bengali Cinema Sujan Mukhopadhyay Jete Nahi Dibo Uttam Kumar
A poster of Jete Nahi Dibo in Kolkata. Sujan/FB

eNewsroom: The TRP factor also comes in…

Sujan: Yes, it does, However, I feel that when a serial has a good storyline, fantastic cast and is trying to be different from the milieu, one should see its intrinsic value and not its TRP rating. You remember the serial – Gaaner Oparey- created by late legendary director Rituparno Ghosh. The serial was highly appreciated, it had immense value but it had a short run on television since it was not a frontrunner in the TRP race. Isn’t that unfortunate?

eNewsroom: Tell us about Rani Creusa now which has been directed by you.

Sujan: As stated earlier, Rani Creusa has been written by Bratya Basu is based on a Greek mythology, but Bratyada has added many contemporary facets. It questions the notion of democracy. It showcases its fallacy. There are shades of Karna-Kunti, there is struggle between gods and human being – power struggle for existence and it also discusses what happens in a society when religion threatens to take over when order and ideology fails. Composer Prabuddha Banerjee has done a marvellous job with the music. The entire star cast that includes Shaheb Chattopadhyay, my wife Nibedita Mukhopadhyay, Rishav Basu and other members of Chetana have given their very best and made the play a grand success.

eNewesroom: And now how about sharing that piece of ‘wonderful news’ about Rani Creusa that you promised to share with our readers?

Sujan: Ah! Yes! Rani Creusa has been selected at the 21st Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2020, organised by National School of Drama, New Delhi. It was selected from a bouquet of 800 plays! After Don — Taake Bhalo Laage, this will be my second outing at the festival as a director. What’s more the play has also been selected for the 5th National Theatre Festival 2020, organised by Minerva Natya Sanakriti Charcha Kendra, Department of Information & Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal.

eNewsroom: Well, you have lots going on… So, will your fans get to see you in movies?

Sujan: Absolutely. I am part of Indraadip Dasgupta’s Agantuk starring Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar. Next there is Tonic – a social drama – helmed by debutant director Abhijit Sen. I will go back to directing a new play in May-June 2020.

Looking over stars in Hindi cinema, not prudent thought!

ScribeShah
-
0
Looking over stars in Hindi cinema, not prudent thought!

Kolkata: Is the age-old star system in the Hindi film industry staring down the barrel? Or in other words, are we turning our backs on stardom in our pursuit of ideas or content with meat? Over the last few years, thanks to the emergence of actors like Irrfan Khan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the multi-talented Rajkummar Rao and the occasional failures of magnum opuses, opulence seems to have faced a jolt and small films with stories that strike a chord with the audiences have stirred up interests of the film goers. But in an industry that runs on crores, is it pragmatic enough to shun stardom?

To get things in perspective, it’s in the negative. Co-existence is the need of the hour and a Mardaani 2 can be conceived only if the production house has a War. The Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff starrer raked in crores at the box office and for the producers Yash Raj Films, it only accentuates its strive towards experimenting.

Similarly, a Salman Khan can launch newcomers under the aegis of his banner if he has a couple of blockbusters to his credit. Aamir and Shah Rukh too can promote talent from the scratch, if they have bucks to back them. That’s reality!

For a film industry to sustain, the numbers are imperative. And we cannot ride piggyback on small and medium-budget films – we need potboilers with superstars that can ensure initials. In 2019, Akshay Kumar has had a dream run with Mission Mangal and Housefull 4. Can we state with utmost conviction that the movies hit it right at the ticket corners only because of the storylines? No, to be precise! A Akshay Kumar matters, so do the likes of Salman, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and Ajay Devgn. At the end of the day, it is all about packaging with the appropriate ingredients. Versatility triumphs and a superstar like Hrithik can churn out two different films like Super 30 and War. Beat that!

Looking back, every film industry has banked on the star system. In Bollywood, it was matinee idols who ruled the roost before the advent of parallel cinema in the mid-‘70s that introduced actors like Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and others who catered to a niche circuit. But the provocations of the glamour world were alluring and Puri and Shah too forayed into the mainstream genre. However, their rise was no impediment for commercially-viable actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty and others who had their committed and unwavering fan base.

The coveted Rs 300-crore club has Ranveer, Ranbir, Hrithik, Salman and Aamir in it. And add to it, the newest star on the block Tiger whose high-octane action sequences are soaring the temperature. A dull year for the Khans as they had in 2018 spells crisis for the film industry.

An SRK, dilly-dallying on his next has the viewers go berserk with impatience. Discussions and speculations on the 2020 Eid clash between Salman’s Radhe and Akshay’s Laxmmi Bomb are hitting headlines ad nauseam. What do these signify? Do we still carry on advocating the precedence of substance over stardom?

Looking back, every film industry has banked on the star system. In Bollywood, it was matinee idols who ruled the roost before the advent of parallel cinema in the mid-‘70s that introduced actors like Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and others who catered to a niche circuit. But the provocations of the glamour world were alluring and Puri and Shah too forayed into the mainstream genre. However, their rise was no impediment for commercially-viable actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty and others who had their committed and unwavering fan base.

With utmost reverence for Ayushmann and Rajkummar, it is still early days for them to be larger-than-life. Years of perseverance and tenacity have made megastars out of the Khans, Kumars and Devgns.

Even in 2000’s when the demarcation between art and masala entertainers was abridged, there was no imminent threat to stars who continued to entertain the audiences in their own imitable way.

Heterogeneity makes audiences go spoilt for choice. The success of one genre does not take a toll on another and mutual trust and admiration for each other is what opens the road to the pinnacle.

With utmost reverence for Ayushmann and Rajkummar, it is still early days for them to be larger-than-life. Years of perseverance and tenacity have made megastars out of the Khans, Kumars and Devgns.

Producers and exhibitors should refrain from falling prey to creative divergence at the expense of revenues.

The current scenario in Bollywood provides a room for a level-playing field where variety dictates terms. And when we say variety, it should not be confined to only the ‘metier’section. Does this suffice without ruffling feathers?

The journey from being called a sissy to becoming India’s highest paid motivational speaker

Debopama Datta
-
1
The journey from being called a sissy to becoming India’s highest paid motivational speaker

Kolkata: “Today you all are watching me not because I am smarter than any of you, or I am more talented than any of you, no, certainly not! I am speaking here in front of you because I have made more mistakes and perhaps seen more failures, rejections, humiliations than any of you!”

An ex-army officer, an actor, a motivational speaker and a theatre artist, Mohammed Ali Shah visited Kolkata for a few days when eNewsroom caught him and talked to him about his life and career. A complete changed person from his childhood, he is now one of the most famous motivational speakers in the country. “In my childhood I was very underconfident, shy and timid and in other words they would call me a very sissy character,” shares Agent Vinod actor.

Being a faculty member of the Whistling Woods International Institute of film, art and media, in Mumbai, Ali Shah has also delivered speeches at reputed platforms like the TEDX talks, Josh talks among others. Technically, Ali is one of the highest paid motivational speakers in the country.

Listen to Mohammed Ali Shah, the motivational speaker

 

“You know, I was never chasing money or commerce, I was chasing art, I worked on my skills, being better than the best,” he said. Failing is not a mountain on the way of success but just another step of it is what he believes in. With this belief he has faced and conquered all rejections in life, emerging as one of the as successful men.

Ali fell in love with the army uniform at the age of 5, his father Lieutenant General Zamir Uddin Shah was in the army and he had huge respect for him. But his failures dimmed his chances to join the army as a child, but his hopes did not die. He kept on working hard and through many mistakes and appreciations, he made it. “This guy who failed consistently in his marching tests, the parade tests and was not allowed to participate in the passing out parade was selected to lead the Assam Rifle’s Marching Contingent on Rajpath, New Delhi, on January 26, 2008, which was the very last year of my Short Service Commission,” he confessed.

The nephew of legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah, Ali is also a Dastango, a storyteller.

1...190191192...264Page 191 of 264

Follow us

Company

We are an independent, non-profit news website based out of Kolkata. We believe in an India that is liberal, secular and democratic and our aim is to help preserve these essential values that make India great! Our endeavour is to bring you stories that need to be told but may not necessarily make it to the headlines elsewhere.

Latest News

“Bengal Won’t Accept Imposed Rule”: Jawhar Sircar’s Strong Message to Voters

Audio/Video 0
Jawhar Sircar warns BJP threatens Bengal’s pluralism and India’s democracy, calls SIR illegal, criticizes Mamata Banerjee, and urges voters to reject divisive politics ahead of crucial elections.

Eight Years, Two Names: The Bangladeshi National Who Fooled India

Combating Hate 0
Sunnyur Rahman lived under a fake Hindu identity for nearly nine years before his arrest during Bengal elections, raising serious questions about surveillance failures, delayed action, and conflicting narratives.

Women, Identity, Change: The Three Forces Driving Bengal’s Electoral Verdict

Bengal 0
Welfare, minority consolidation, and women voters boost TMC, while BJP banks on anti-incumbency, urban discontent, and Hindi-speaking voters, making Bengal’s electoral outcome a complex and closely watched contest.

Popular News

Four Indian Photojournalists Win Pulitzer Prize For Covid-19 Photography

Live Frame 0
Amid the controversy about the exact figures of Covid-19...

Magical world of Harry Potter recreated at Jadavpur University

Bengal 0
Kolkata: The two-day Harry Potter extravaganza - Alohomora kicked...

Watch Madhya Pradesh MLAs entering Assembly on day one

Live Frame 0
Bhopal: On January 8, when the MLAs entered the...

© 2021-2026 enewsroom India . All Rights Reserved.