Articles Archive - Page 22

Let's Just Play, Nickelodeon's worldwide movement aimed at imbibing 'active play' in the lifestyle of kids of today, believes that kids need to

Avinash (Jagya) and Avika Gor (Anandi) More Pics

strike a balance between their life indoors and outdoors!

Avinash (Jagya) and Avika Gor (Anandi) of the popular television series 'Balika Vadhu' truly believe that play is important and kick started the initiative along with the legendary Nicktoon - SpongeBob SquarePants at the Balika Vadhu sets.

Commenting on this initiative, Avinash (Jagya) and Avika Gor (Anandi) say, "We love playing! Play is fun, cool and freedom from boredom. It gives us a break from our studies and shoots. We are always caught running around on the sets of our TV show." Says Avinash, "I am a huge fan of cricket. I love to play cricket with my friends in the colony." Avika continues, "I love dancing and I make sure that I attend my dance classes regularly!"

Commenting on this initiative, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Nick India says, "Both, Jagya and Anandi have captured the hearts of millions of kids and parents alike and we're excited to have them on-board the Let's Just Play' movement, urging all kids to go out and play on November 7th. This year, as we hold the 'Play-a-thon' grand finale across 5 cities, simultaneously on November 7th from 4 - 9 pm, we're confident of a great response."

'Let's Just Play' this year is an extensive 6-week initiative that will culminate into a nationwide first of its kind Play-a-thon. Nick will use the power of its platform and convey the message of active play to kids in a manner that makes 'Active Play' a cool and fashionable thing to do. Massive 10-hour Play-a-thons will be organized in Ambience Malls Outdoor Area-Delhi, Inorbit Mall Outdoor Area-Mumbai, City Centre Mall Outdoor Area-Kolkata, RSI Grounds-Bangalore and Prasad IMAX Grounds-Hyderabad on 7th November 2009 which will culminate in a grand finale in the evening from 4pm - 9pm.

Not only will Nick go blank on this day encouraging millions of kids to get out and play, but will take the initiative beyond TV through events. Kick starting from the morning of 7th November, the first half of the 10 hour play-a-thon will comprise of an inter-school sports event consisting twisted and high energy games.

Movement therapy and funky dance workshops take over in the afternoon. The Grand Finale of the Play-a-thon kicks off 4pm onwards where thousands of kids will converge to play telegames and have fun with the legendary Nicktoons - Ninja Hattori, Dora The Explorer, Maruko Chan, SpongeBob SquarePants and Perman. The unique games such as Giant Slippers, 3 Team Football and Under the Ropes to name a few will have the energy levels soaring and will completely appeal to the Gen Y kids of today.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Anandi-Jagya-meet-SpongeBob/articleshow/5202731.cms

Those of you who have been following the show Balika Vadhu since the day it began will probably remember the young actress Sadia Siddiqui who

A still from the serial

played the role of Anandi's teacher Sandhya.


Anandi was much influenced by her teacher and wanted to study further however her impending wedding to Jagdish caused her to discontinue her studies

Now, after almost a year, Anandi's teacher is back on the scene albeit for a short while. However, this time, she makes her comeback not as a teacher but as the Education Inspector and is invited as a chief guest for the Children's Day function in Jagdish's school.
On seeing her teacher back, Anandi is delirious with joy. However, during the course of the function, the secret of discontinuation of Anandi's studies is revealed. How this secret is revealed and what Sandhya will now do is something we all can't wait to see!

Meanwhile, we decided to catch up with Sadia who is back on the show after almost a year. Speaking to us she said, "Oh it was a pleasure to be back on the show. This is a special one hour show tonight on the occasion of Children's Day in which I make a comeback. I was quite surprised to note that my fans had been quite eager to see me back on the show. I've been getting calls from people expressing how happy they are to know that I'm back. However, as of now it's only this one episode that I am acting in for I am going to be out of town for a while...but lets see if I can come back again for a longer stint!"

Well girl we'll definitely be looking forward to see you back on the show. We missed your spunky style...and we're sure little Anandi's nodding in agreement to us! Hence don't miss Sadia on the episode tonight on Balika Vadhu special at 10pm only on Colors!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Anandis-teacher-is-back/articleshow/5229810.cms

The days of telly moms-in-law seem numbered. There was a time when the on-screen saas didn't leave any stone unturned to create havoc in the

Surekha Sikri in Balika Vadhu

lives of the dutiful bahus.

Now, the quintessential tormentor of the daughter-in-law has taken a backseat as another family member has taken over the mantle 'tormentor-in-chief'. It's time to say hello to the evil daadis/naanis.

A look at the current crop of popular shows on TV will prove that the mothers-in-law have been reduced to playing submissive and crying women. In the absence of a vampish saas, the slot has been successfully filled by the conniving daadi. Uttaran has Pratima Kazmi playing the mean grandmom, Meghna Malik's the mean Ammaji in Na Ana Is Des Mere Laado, while Naaniji in Sapna Babul Ka... Bidaai is causing roadblocks in Alekh's successful treatment by shattering his confidence, Surekha Sikri is the much-feared daadisa, and Amma in Chhoti Bahu ensures that she's making Radhika's life miserable. It's the daadi show all the way.
Breaking away from the traditional and lovable portrayal of grandmothers in the shows, soapmakers have chalked out a different character-route for the matriarch of the family. "When making a show, a negative character is a must for the story to go forward. Either we get the character from outside or from within the family. In Balika Vadhu we have given Daadisa's character shades of grey to keep the story going," says producer Sunjoy Waddhwa on being quizzed about the new trend.

The makers also believe that an external force bringing about negativity in family dramas don't go down well with the audience. "It's a family drama. Everything that happens should be within the house, even if it's a person spreading bad vibes. And honestly, people are tired of watching the same saas-bahu struggles," opines actor Sara Khan. No wonder then that these shows are enjoying a successful stay at the TRP charts. Balika Vadhu raked in a TRP of 4.19, while Bidaai followed close with 4.08. Uttaran averaged a 4.09, while Chhoti Bahu stands at 3.1.

Production houses insist that the portrayal of the daadi/naani as the negative character is not just for the sake of 'change'. "If one observes the so-called negative characters, he/she will notice that they are not completely negative. The grandmother is the matriarch of the family and rules with an iron hand. It's natural for humans to err and her character is very human and real," explains Waddhwa.

"In urban families, which are basically nuclear, we think these characters are negative because we don't live under such restrictions and fear. But rural families are bound by restriction, culture and tradition and such characters do exist," he adds. Producer Rajan Shahi too shares the same opinion. "In a traditional set-up there are a lot of restrictions. Those who impose these restrictions are viewed as people with negative characters. But that's not true. One needs to understand the reasons behind it as well," explains Shahi.

So while traditional family dramas are being lapped up by tellybuffs, let the grannies bring in the TRP.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Granny-tales/articleshow/5232904.cms