Happy Republic Day 26th January

Happy Republic Day 26th January

Republic Day 26th January Greeting Cards

Amitabh Bachchan launches new version of 'Mile sur mera tumhara

Amitabh launches new version of 'Mile sur mera tumhara'
Mumbai, Jan 25 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan released the new version of the patriotic song "Mile sur mera tumhara" here on the eve of Republic Day. It is now titled "Phir Mile Sur" and Bollywood megastar was excited about the fact that he is the only one who has been repeated in it.

"People from film industry along with so many other individuals have given their voices to make this wonderful song of India. I am the only person in the song who has a repeat value," Bachchan told reporters at the Hotel Taj Lands End.

"I am very, very thankful that they have considered me to have the opportunity to stand along with my son and daughter-in-law to make it a very historic piece of music," he added.

"Mile sur mera tumhara" was conceptualized and conceived by late Suresh Mallick and it was first aired on Doordarshan on Aug 15, 1988, and after 22 years Arti and Kailash Surendranath have recreated and presented it as "Phir mile sur".

From vocalists Bhimsen Joshi and Balamurali Krishna to sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, tabla maestros Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain to sportsmen Narendra Hirwani and Prakash Padukone featured in the original. Well-known film personalities like Amitabh, Lata Mangeshkar, Mithun Chakraborty, Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Kamal Haasan, Sharmila Tagore, Tanuja and Waheeda Rehman too appeared in the national integration song.

"I have always felt that Indian cinema has bonded people irrespective of cast, creed or religion. When we buy a ticket in cinema hall we never see whether the person sitting beside me is a Hindu or a Muslim or a Sikh. We all enjoy the same film. We all laugh at the same jokes, we sing the same song, we cry at same emotion," he added.

More than 60 known personalities, including actors Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Juhi Chawla along with other prominent personalities feature in the new version of the song.

It features 22 superstars, 18 musicians, 13 artistes and singers and 15 other known personalities.

"Phir mile sur" will be initially aired on Zoom Tuesday.

Big B And Abhishek Bachchan on new show Bingo

Amitabh Bachchan And Abhishek Bachchan on new show Bingo

I know how media works and functions Amitabh Bachchan

I know how media works and functions: Amitabh Bachchan (Interview)
By Dibyojyoti Baksi

Mumbai, Jan 25 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a media baron in forthcoming film "Rann", says he was among the pioneers of satellite television in the West long before it came to India and has a fair idea how a channel runs.

"I was one of the pioneers of satellite television in the United Kingdom and New York. We ran Asian television there. We were actually the first ones who did that many, many, many years ago before satellite television came here. So, yes, I know how it works and how it functions," Bachchan told IANS in an interview here.

"But now, of course, it has become a huge industry. It's a very intricate process, a very difficult task and extremely competitive. I have been to some of the (news) studios and I have seen how they function - (it's) a massive task," he added.

Bachchan had endorsed one of the first satellite Asian TV channels in Britain in the early 1990s - TV Asia before it was taken over by ZEE Network.

The megastar clarifies that "Rann", which releases Jan 29, is pro-media and not at all about media bashing as has been reported.

"It's a little premature for the media to think like this, but you know 'Rann' is a very pro-media film. In the film what I do as part of the media (industry) is nothing dishonourable. I (have been) put across as a very honourable person and whatever I do is very pro-media."

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, "Rann" is about business and consciousness in electronic media and the moot point of the film is what edges the other.

"Whether business wins over consciousness or otherwise, that would always depend upon the owner of the channel and that's the crux of the story. It's a battle between business and consciousness.

"Does Mr.Vijay Harshvardhan Malik (played by Amitabh in the film), who is a symbol of purity and integrity, succumb to things like 'I don't care about business, I want to keep my consciousness' or 'to hell with conscience, I will have to save my business'; that's what the story will be," said Amitabh.

The actor also said that he didn't borrow any mannerisms from media personalities like Prannoy Roy or Rajdeep Sardesai.

"I don't try imitating any particular action of anybody. I try to be myself," said Amitabh, but added Ram Gopal Varma might have taken inspiration from the two while creating a character.

"These are elements which we see every day. Yes, when we are making a film on electronic media, it is very difficult to ignore them (Prannoy or Rajdeep) or not be inspired by them."

While Amitabh appreciates the positive impact of the media, he maintains that it is not flawless.

"Media is a very powerful medium. It's the voice of the nation. It informs and also forms opinion. It has the power to be able to influence you in forming a decision. It has a power to change governments... Now, when one entity has so many powers, are there any drawbacks? Are there any loopholes there? Do people use them or misuse them? These are some of the issues that the film deals with," he said.

The actor, who recently criticised the paid news syndrome in an interview, said the media is not solely responsible for such practice where the source of information is kept under wraps.

"Somebody has to bring the concept. You are the medium and they have to publish it or broadcast it. It is your decision whether you want to do it or not. One doesn't mind provided there is a disclosure. Disclose what you are doing, then it is fine. If it is made transparent, I don't see any harm. Let everybody have some kind of transparency."

Amitabh Bachchan and Neetu Chandra at promotion press Meet Rann Movie

Amitabh Bachchan and Sudip at a press conference as part of promotion of 'Rann' to be directed by Ram Gopal Verma, in Bangalore.

Amitabh Bachchan addressing a press conference as part of promotion of 'Rann' to be directed by Ram Gopal Verma, in Bangalore.

Actor Neetu Chandra at a press conference duing promotion of the film 'Rann' directed by Ram Gopal Verma, in Bangalore.