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City's social scene comes to a halt
[ Wednesday, July 05, 2006 08:40:16 pmTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]


The rains have not only washed out the roads but also Mumbai's ever hectic and non-stop party scene

The rains have not only washed out the roads but also Mumbai's ever hectic and non-stop party scene, that has literally shut shop for the past two days now!

Mumbai's fashionistas were looking forward to a glitzy night at the launch party of an international fashion brand that inevitably got cancelled.

Yana Gupta was to roar at a PETA campaign, however, that was called off as well. Author Tushar Raheja's literary event was also postponed.

Even the ever party hearties of telly land decided to call off their press conference of a new TV show starring Rajeev Khandelwal. That apart, quite a few private parties were also cancelled.

Says Mumbai's party perennial Kishen Mulchandani, "All the parties have been called off and I have no where to go in the evening! This will continue till the rains lash the city."

Rajeev Khandelwal: No other character has been missed so badly as Sujal of Kahin To Hoga. Rajeev shot to instant fame by playing this lover boy role with great intensity. He has a mesmerizing effect on the fairer sex and he would win hands down if contested for the most loved actor in tellydom. His exit from Kahin To… affected both the parties; the show witnessed a fall in TRPs. Following next, Rajeev couldn't help the fate of Time Bomb (Zee) and Deal Ya No Deal (Sony). But the viewers are still anxiously waiting for his upcoming series, Left Right Left (SAB). With the promising promos of this show, we are optimistic that Khandelwal will be back with a bang and will prove to be a lambi race ka ghoda.

Gone are the days when 'only' the stars of the big screen, the Khans and the Kapoors, were tagged as the hottest men in town. The recent boom in the television industry has made such a remarkable impact on it's viewers that it wouldn't be a surprise to find a poster of aapna tv star in one's bedroom. Amongst them too, are a select few who have a winning streak in them and have carved a niche for themselves.

We at Tellychakkar.com present to you these hot n happening telly stars….

PS: It's sheer co-incidence that all these actors got their share of name and fame via K factor, Balaji Telefilms.

Rajeev Khandelwal: No other character has been missed so badly as Sujal of Kahin To Hoga. Rajeev shot to instant fame by playing this lover boy role with great intensity. He has a mesmerizing effect on the fairer sex and he would win hands down if contested for the most loved actor in tellydom. His exit from Kahin To… affected both the parties; the show witnessed a fall in TRPs. Following next, Rajeev couldn't help the fate of Time Bomb (Zee) and Deal Ya No Deal (Sony). But the viewers are still anxiously waiting for his upcoming series, Left Right Left (SAB). With the promising promos of this show, we are optimistic that Khandelwal will be back with a bang and will prove to be a lambi race ka ghoda.

Telly melodies

Remember Ally McBeal's famous track For once in my life, featuring Vonda Shepard? Or I'll be there for you, the theme song of Friends performed by The Rembrandts? Well, trans-Atlantic TV serials are known to have their own soundtracks. But closer home, though one of the earliest Indian TV shows to have its own soundtrack was Amanat (Zee TV) in the early 90s, it's only now that the trend is catching up big time. The new tele-shows with soundtracks include Left Right Left (Sab TV) and Prithviraj Chauhan (Star Plus). Remix (Star One) too has its own music, an album containing the popular tracks of the serial which was released last year, was composed by Bappi Lahiri and Pritam and sung by the band Aasma. Even Sony had launched an album containing the title track of its popular soap, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahiin. In big league What's noteworthy is that it's mainstream singers and composers who are now working on the music of TV serials. For instance, the title track of Left Right Left, has been composed by Vishal & Shekhar (who hit big time with Dus and Bluffmaster), and has been sung by Kunal Ganjawala. Similarly, the lyrics for the songs of the period show Prithviraj Chauhan, have been penned by Ravindra Jain and the seven songs in the album have been sung by Shreya Ghoshal, Babul Supriyo and Udit Narayan. Even Sahara One has created an anthem for its channel, featuring protagonists from all its prime shows. Titled Naya Rang, the composition is choreographed by Feroz Khan and sung by Shreya Ghoshal. Wonder act No doubt, there's big money involved even in TV music these days, but does it really help? Priya Jain of Sab TV says, "The peppy music of Left... helped popularise the show, making the target audience look forward to its telecast." She claims that this song "has done the same for the show what Right here right now did for Bluffmaster." Ajay Vidyasagar of Star India, on the other hand, feels, "it's more about extending the show's brand value. Soundtrack of Nach Baliye and Remix helped both the shows and we hope the same for Prithviraj Chauhan." Cost effective The marketing strategy involves playing these songs in public places -- the promotional song of Left... was played in cinema halls, while the soundtrack of Prithviraj... was all over the radio. Sums up Kunal, "TV is almost like a family member. India being a nation of music lovers, these songs and albums are bound to be noticed. And they also make the shows popular." But unlike flop movies, which succeed in leaving a mark through good music, a TV show has to survive on its own, with or without a rocking soundtrack.

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'Aye Aye Sir'

A new show that tries action formula instead of family sagas. Our correspondent finds out the storyline

We hate repeating ourselves,'' says Deeya Singh. So post their last success with the serial Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, her production firm DJ's A Creative Unit, which she runs along with husband Tony, sat down to brainstorm. ''A military school captures everyone's imaginations with its adventure and romance. Who has forgotten Fauji? In fact, the series was the an inspiration for our next venture,'' she says. July 10 will then see Left Right Left , their latest venture, take off on SAB. And like Singh said, there should be little of the formula that does the rounds with family dramas. Here, it's camouflages for costumes designed by Provogue, pre-shooting tutorials on drill and march past and a whole load of outdoor action. < = src="http://banners.expressindia.com/banner/eiintel.js"> < = src="http://banners.expressindia.com/adsnew/adjs.php?para=no &n=721465821&what=zone:470&target=_blank&exc lude=," =text/> The serial is about six cadets — four boys and two girls — at the fictitious Kanchanjunga Military Academy (KMA) in Ambala, Punjab. Its story revolves around their tryst with KMA's rules and regulations and their personal struggles. For the viewers it also seems to mean a refreshing line - up of some new faces. Among the guys, Vikas Manaktala is not entirely new to the camera. In fact, it was a few of his tele ad campaigns — Yamaha, Reid and Taylor, Nokia N70 among others —that got him noticed, and saw a common friend introduce him to the makers of the serial. He plays Huda, the fun-loving flirt who adores his mother. ''I had been offered serials earlier but I preferred the idea of being in this teenage story,'' says the 25 - year - old. Harshad Chopra left behind his role in Zee TV's Mamta to become the very modest and co-operative Ali. Arjun Bijlani's character Aalekh, the ''bindaas dude who really didn't want to be at KMA,'' also grapples with a drinking habit. Bijlani learnt his first TV lessons with cameos on a few television productions. For all those who will miss Varun from Remix, Kunal Kapoor who plays the character appears here as Yudi. He says, ''Yudi joins the academy to make a mark in life. He is physically unfit but is a genius with gadgets. Yet his odd ways leave him without friends until he joins KMA.'' Since KMA lets girls in too, there's TV anchor Priyanka Bassi playing Naina, the all - ambitious girl of today and and Ghazal Rai taking on the role of Pooja, ''the chirpy girl who wants to live out all her fantasies and dreams''. To help the six get into the mood, in May, the cast was put through a few days of basic training at Raigad Military School. The actual shoots didn't feel very different. Says Manaktala, ''We would be up early and start shooting by 7 am. Between shots we'd have only 10-minute breaks for water and some fruit.'' Set designer Neelabh Kapoor has created an academy ''worth Rs 1 crore'' in Film City and Powai's Chitra Studio where the cadets have been going through army - style rigours. There's been some fun as well. Says Bijlani, ''There was this scene where Kunal's character Yudi has to hug and kiss me. It was the funniest thing we have done so far. We just couldn't stop laughing.'' For the rest of the cast there's Rajeev Khandewal as Captain Rajveer and Puneet Issar as Brigadier Chandok who owns KMA. As for the eternal fans of the Shahrukh Khan starrer Fauji on Doordarshan, this may just feel like yesterday.

The show features six newcomers in the role of the six youngsters, along with TV stars Rajiv Khandelwal, Shveta Salve and Punit Issar.

In order to give a realistic touch to the show, the makers made the actors go through rigorous training in various military disciplines to enable them to effectively translate on the small screen the lives of students of the institution.

"While making all efforts to make the show look realistic, we have also tried to give a very contemporary feel to it,"Tony said.

Speaking on the occasion, TV actor Rajiv Khandelwal, known as the Sharukh Khan of the small screen, said, "Though I have earlier worked in many serials under banners like Balaji telefilms, working with Tony and Diya Singh was an altogether different experience. I have never worked with a more creative unit which is so passionate about the craft".

Serials on 'Real people' and 'real emotions' bring "breath of fresh air" on TV
New Delhi, July 10. (UNI): Even as an "ad-nauseam" display of kitchen politics creates a sense of 'dj vu' among TV viewers, a host of 'new wave' professionals bursting with creative ideas are striving to infuse a "breath of fresh air" on small screen with their serials portraying the "real emotions of the real people".

Amid a scene filled with 'Saas-Bahu' sagas or serials dealing with family rivalries, shows like 'Kittu Sab Janti Hai' and Sati-Satya Ki Shakti' on Sahara One, 'India Calling' on Star One' and 'Jab Luv Hua' on Zee TV invariably come as a relief for TV viewers bored to death by the surfeit of "family dramas" on the tube.

The latest in the list of "real life sagas" seeking to revolutionise the Indian television scene is 'Left Right Left', a show dealing with the dilemmas, hopes and aspirations of the youth of this country, to be aired on SAB TV from today.

It is a story of six confused and disoriented youth who, looking for their true calling in life, end up at a pre-NDA academy.

Produced and directed by the duo of Tony and Diya Singh, who have given to television pathbreaking shows like 'Banegi Apni Baat', 'Jab Luv Hua' on Zee TV, Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin' on Sony, the show is an attempt to capture on the small screen the "trials and tribulations undergone and varied emotions experienced by today's youth in course of a search for their identity and purpose in life", something which no serial in recent years has done.

Speaking at a press meet in the capital to announce the launch of the show, to be aired on Mondays to Thursdays at 2130 hrs, Programming head, SAB, Ms Priya said the serial was a part of their endeavour to present to the TV viewer something new and different from the content being dished out to them at present.

"The show reflects the sensibilities of today's youth, many of whom do not know what they want to do in life. In short, they are wondering whether to go left, right or left. Infact, being associated with the show was for me reliving my experiences as a young girl. For example, when I entered college, I was like the youth in the serial, who was wondering whether this (doing college) was really what I wanted to do," she added.

She noted the show was different from those being aired by other general entertainment TV channels in the 2100 hrs to 2200 hrs slot.

"None of the general entertainment channels have addressed the sentiments of youth. Infact, the show showcases much larger issues that concern the youth and reflects their attitude," Ms Priya said.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President and Business Head, SAB, Vikas Bahl said, "Our programming strategy consists of introducing new shows that include unique concepts, fresh new faces and an overall packaging that draws the masses, giving the much needed impetus to expand the channel viewership.

At SAB we are moving in the direction of consolidating our prime time. The launching of shows like 'Twinkle Beauty Parlour' and 'Left Right Left' is an effort in this direction."

"During a survey carried out by us in ten cities of the country, we met several people who said they were dying to see something new and different on television. Hence, shows like 'Twinkle beauty parlour' and 'Left right Left' are launched," Ms Priya added.

Tony and Diya Singh said the serial and its characters were ones with which people of all ages, from 7-77, would completely identify with.

"No matter what your age, there must have been a time in your life when you would have gone through the same dilemmas and experienced the same emotions,"Tony Singh said.

Diya Singh said the serial was another attempt on their part to present to the TV viewers a show with a refreshing concept.

"To be doing something new each time you come out with a serial is very satifying for a creative professional,"she said.

Detailing on "Left right Left' she said it was a story of six youngsters - Huda, Naina, Yudi, Alekh, Ali and Pooja - who come together at a pre-NDA academy with varied intentions, dreams, aspirations and goals, but the stint with the academy transforms them from being nave to responsible young men and women determined to fight all odds in life.

The show features six newcomers in the role of the six youngsters, along with TV stars Rajiv Khandelwal, Shveta Salve and Punit Issar.

In order to give a realistic touch to the show, the makers made the actors go through rigorous training in various military disciplines to enable them to effectively translate on the small screen the lives of students of the institution.

"While making all efforts to make the show look realistic, we have also tried to give a very contemporary feel to it,"Tony said.

Speaking on the occasion, TV actor Rajiv Khandelwal, known as the Sharukh Khan of the small screen, said, "Though I have earlier worked in many serials under banners like Balaji telefilms, working with Tony and Diya Singh was an altogether different experience. I have never worked with a more creative unit which is so passionate about the craft".

The show also features Shveta Salve, who has acted in serials like 'Lipstick' and 'Sarrkar'.

TELE EXPRESS


RAJEEV KHANDELWAL TELLS SHIRIN ABBAS MORE ABOUT HIS ROLE IN SONY'S LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT

Dare to be different

Express Features Service

It's his next big thing on the small screen after bowing out of Deal Ya No Deal. TV star Rajeev Khandelwal is looking forward to playing the young and dapper metrosexual instructor at the Kanchanjanga Military Academy. Rajeev plays Captain Rajveer an energetic, suave, intelligent male instructor, extremely popular among women of all ages for his demeanor. Not just mentor and hard taskmaster, he is also a source of inspiration for the young cadets at the Academy with his rocking attitude. His ever-charming style and Never Say Die attitude makes him an idol among the KMA cadets. He has a great sense of humor and is a great cook also. "The story is not just about the academy and my mission to motivate the students to join the army," says Rajeev who plays a very young instructor who has only recently been a pass-out from the same academy.

For Rajeev the role is one he can identify with, what with his father having been in the army and another brother in the army too. "So for obvious reasons I was interested in the serial, especially since the makers of the serial (read Tony and Dia Singh of Jassi fame..) have a reputation of doing things with substance." The challenges of the role notwithstanding, Rajeev is of the opinion that regardless of what weighs TRPs in their favour, actors have to ensure they put in genuine efforts and he is leaving no stone unturned in that quarter.



"Now what TRPs the show will enjoy, remains to be seen. Different people have different tastes, I am sure people will love it. It's a many-layered serial. Every cadet coming in, brings his own background and case history. So there are multiple layers to every personality. It also has a lot of youthful energy, which is why I am in it, says Rajeev.