Madhulika’s review of Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography, Winner of the National Award for Best Book on Cinema, 2022 > Likes and Comments

"but they are always in such a hurry to get these books out, aren't they?"

This. This resonated so much with me. Inki kitaab toh phir bhi itni zyaada poorly-edited nahin hai (I have come across much, much worse) and it always makes me wonder: why not spend more time re-reading it? (most Indian publishers these days anyway don't invest very much in editing, so one can't generally count on them; it's up to writers). And in this case I get the impression that the language skills are there, it's only that there seems to be a hurry to finish it off.

Gaata Rahe Mera Dil (and the books on SDB and RDB) were a bit too technical, and that went completely over my head. This book, in comparison, was a little easier to understand because they restrained themselves and didn't go overboard with the technical stuff.

Aur: hum kahaan se bataayenge ke kyon acchha lagta hai? ;-)

But I felt disappointed that Bhattacharjee and Dhar didn't mention my favourite Kishore song from the last years. From Sitamgar, Mausam pyaar ka rang badalta rahe, a lovely duet with Asha that I like a lot (even though 80s and 90s music generally leaves me flat). Kishore's voice is somehow very mellifluous, very soft in that.

Madhulika wrote: "Aur: hum kahaan se bataayenge ke kyon acchha lagta hai? ;-)

But I felt disappointed that Bhattacharjee and Dhar didn't mention my favourite Kishore song from the last years. From Sitamgar, Mausam..."

Mausam Pyar Ka has been mentioned in the RD book. I avoided repeating stories and songs you see. The volume is so huge that it could go on and on... :)

Anirudha wrote: "Madhulika wrote: "Aur: hum kahaan se bataayenge ke kyon acchha lagta hai? ;-)

I see :-)

Spine Dining wrote: "AB looks like Kumar Sanu in his pehla waala author picture - in that green stripe wala tshirt, no?

(i co..."

LoL! Actually, yes. :-)

Also, I must add: the Basu Chatterji book is very good. I enjoyed that one a lot.

Thank you! I think the only film I haven't seen from among those is Kamla ki Maut... I need to amend that soonest.

I have read the book, so presumably I read about Kamla ki Maut in it. But I'd totally forgotten. If I'd been asked who might have directed a film with a name like that, I'd probably have said Mrinal Sen or something (I think I'm mixing it up with Ek Doctor Ki Maut)....

When DD was showing all those art films back in the 80s, I was too young to see them (or at least my parents decreed that I was too young) and oddly enough even after I grew up I never sought them out. I think I ended up watching only a handful of films of that character - Paar, Mirch Masala, and that was it. I saw some of those foreign films, but don't remember which ones now.

Very true. Over the many years I've blogged on cinema, I've received countless recommendations, and I have also discovered that only a handful of people are those who tastes match my own - so now I only take their recommendations seriously.

:-D

But thank you. Bahut shukriya, badi meherbaani.

I have not seen Manthan. But now I am very tempted. (And yes, Girish Karnad was very good-looking in a rugged sort of way: and of course a fantastic actor).

Spine Dining wrote: "Madhulika wrote: "I have not seen Manthan. But now I am very tempted. (And yes, Girish Karnad was very good-looking in a rugged sort of way: and of course a fantastic actor)."

arrey! you should to..."

Thanks - will watch!

Spine Dining wrote: "Madhulika wrote: "Also, I must add: the Basu Chatterji book is very good. I enjoyed that one a lot."

Definitely my next read! "thefanstory" handle on insta carried a list of "10 Basu Chatterji (sp..."

Sorry to barge in—couldn’t resist that :) . Basu-da’s best work, IMHO (and certainly his most technically accomplished, given the budget and the constraints he was working under), is Sara Aakash. It was also part of our +2 syllabus, which is why I’ve had a long and personal association with both the story and the film. Also, being from Patna, I've seen families and houses which are very similar to the characters in the book.

That's why I wanted to write about the film in as much detail as possible and, with considerable difficulty, managed to interview the surviving cast—actually, all of them. Rakesh Pandey (who passed away recently), Madhuchhanda Chakrabarty (a process that took over five years and could easily be the subject of a short story in itself), and Nandita Thakur, who initially had trouble speaking and communicated with me through SMSes.

Among the technicians, sound engineer Narinder Singh was immensely helpful. Ramesh Gupta, Basu-da’s assistant, also contributed whatever he could recall. I only managed to track down Shibu Mitra much later, which was unfortunate, as he, a fresh FTII grad then, had a major role in maintaining continuity.

Sara Aakash is based on a true story, and I was able to get in touch with the family as well. I am so thankful that everyone I reached out to helped, else, the story would have remained incomplete.

Most of my friends haven’t seen Sara Aakash and found that section of the book dull. For me, it was the most satisfying part to write, precisely because I knew the amount of effort involved. Very few people recognise how difficult such an exercise is. Almost nothing is known about the film, or about its cast and crew—and bridging that gap was not simple. I tried.

(And to answer something I just noticed... by no account I resemble Kumar Sanu :D . Check my picture in the Basu da book. That's me in 2023 Jan. There are multiple pics on sm as well :) )

hahaha :)
Thank you. I didn't get your name, that'll help.