BOLLYWOOD IN JAIPUR RAHUL -PRAJAKTA

BOLLYWOODB

RAHUL AND PRAJAKTA WITH AMITABH



he Mumbai-based event organising company, Entertainment-7 organised, on a lavish scale for the first time in Jaipur, a ten-day long Pink City Film Festival from March 31 to April 9. The programme was dedicated to Amitabh Bachchan.

The Pink City Film Festival’s inaugural function began on March 31 with an alluring ‘Star Nite’ with exciting performances by Hindi film stars like Govinda, Sunil Shetty, Malaika Arora Khan, Sonu Sood, Krishna Abhishek and Aslam Khan. They danced to hit numbers of Amitabh Bachchan under the choreography of Lollypop. Former Miss World and actor Yukta Mookhey and TV star Aman Varma anchored the show.

The finest moment of the entire programme was when 61/4 feet long wax statue of Amitabh Bachchan (like the one in Madame Tussaud Museum in London) was brought on stage in a unique style before thousands of the viewers.

Among other cultural programmes staged during the festival included: Bappi Lahiri, whose ‘Mumbai nagariya ...’ from the film Taxi 9211 which has brought him back into limelight in the Hindi film music scene, appeared for a show on April 6; on April 7, Indian Idol finalists Rahul Vaidya and Prajakta Shukre sang songs from Bachchan’s films receiving a warm response from the audience; Local dance troupe Twisters gave many performances on Amitabh Bachchan songs during the 10-day long festival. On April 9, the concluding day, Poonam Dhillon visiting the AB Gallery which was littered with exclusive and unseen photographs, oil paintings of the star by Delhi painter Rajpal Singh, set of the film Black with snow fall, dresses and costumes worn by the superstar in various films were displayed. After taking round of the AB Gallery, Poonam addressed the large gathering and later, cut a cake to celebrate the 59 birthday of Jaya Bachchan with thousands attending the show shouting in one voice, ‘Happy birthday, Jayaji’.

The same day, Sambhavana Seth, the item girl of many films and acting as the club dancer in Mukta Arts’ upcoming film 36, China Town, began with an alluring performance on Zinda’s title song, thrilling the audience no end. She presented various numbers from latest films.

Rajasthani cinema a special Rajasthani film gallery was inaugurated by Nathu Singh Gurjar, MLA-former minister-MP and actor of Hindi and Rajasthani films. The gallery pointed out prominently: First hero of Rajasthani films: Mahipal; veteran Rajasthani film actor: Neelu; Hindi film’s prominent actors who acted in Rajasthani films: Rakesh Roshan, Pran, Mehmood and many others; First Marwari film: Najrana in 1942; first genuine Rajasthani film produced in 1960: Babasa Ri Ladli.

Perhaps, for the first time, at any film festival, two books in Hindi on Amitabh Bachchan were released. Hindi film producer KC Bokadia and film actor Sunil Shetty released the book authored by Shyam Mathur titled Amitabh Tujhe Salam while Main Amitabh Bol Raha Hoon by journalist Sumant Mishra was released by Bina Kak, former Minister and actor.

Selected films of the superstar like Zanjeer, Coolie, Shahenshah, Baghban, Black, and hit films of Rajshri Productions like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, etc followed by Hollywood blockbuster Titanic were shown during the festival at Multiplex, Durgapura.

During the festival, with the co-operation from NGO ‘Make A Wish’, Entertainment-7 organised a programme of presenting gifts to children suffering from incurable diseases like cancer by the film stars.

The credit for showcasing the superstar’s manifold achievements and mass awakening about the star goes to Anoop Srivastava, Creative Head and his colleagues: Umesh Chowhan and Mahendra Singh Chowhan.