Dinesh Kamath's column 'Anupam Kher wins an award' that was published in Newsband

Anupam Kher wins an award

By Dinesh Kamath

Another good news is that veteran actor Anupam Kher's medical drama series bagged the Outstanding Cast Award at the SCAD aTVfest 2019. He dedicated the award to his late father Pushkarnath Kher on his seventh death anniversary. Anupam won the award in Atlanta. Anupam Kher dedicated the award to his father. He said that at the SCAD aTVfest. The cast of the series 'New Amsterdam' won the Outstanding Cast award. And it being his father's seventh death anniversary, I dedicated this award to him. To this, his close friend Anil Kapoor wrote: "You just keep soaring higher and higher Anupam Kher! We're all watching your flight with so much joy and pride! Congratulations 'New Amsterdam' for winning Outstanding Cast at the SCAD aTVfest 2019!" Anupam thanked him and replied: "Thank you my dearest friend Anil Kapoor. Your love, warmth and appreciation means so much to me. You really help me and inspire me to give my best."

Inspired by Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in the US, the series follows the brilliant and charming doctor Max Goodwin played by actor Ryan Eggold, the institution's newest medical director who sets out to shake up the bureaucracy and provide exceptional care.

Anupam Kher expressed angst over Awantipora terror attacks. The terror attack has been strongly condemned across the globe and several eminent personalities have expressed their anger and disgust on social media. Actor Anupam Kher has shared a powerful video where he can be seen making a strong point against all those who criticise the armed forces. Kher wrote in the caption of his video, “Feeling extremely sad and angry. More than 40 CRPF jawans martyred. Millions of thoughts in my mind. I hope the govt. deals with the terrorists befittingly. Also time for certain people in our own country who criticise the armed forces to SHUT UP.”

In a ghastly terror attack, a suicide bomber identified as Adil Ahmad Dar from the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district on Thursday afternoon which left 44 dead and several others critically injured. The entire nation is standing in solidarity with the families of the martyrs who lost their life.

On the Bollywood front, the 63-year-old actor was last seen on screen in in 'The Accidental Prime Minister', directed by debutant Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, along with Hansal Mehta as the creative producer. He played former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the film.

For your infprmation, Anupam Kher starrer medical drama New Amsterdam has been renewed for second season. The series, which stars Ryan Eggold as a doctor who is given the formidable challenge of running one of country's oldest public hospitals in New York, was launched in September last year. Anupam Kher took to social media to share the news.

“Congratulations to our brilliant cast and crew. It is a show which celebrates love, life, compassion and diversity. So Happy and excited,” the actor said. The series, which stars Ryan Eggold as a doctor who is given the formidable challenge of running one of country’s oldest public hospitals in New York, was launched in September last year. The show, which is loosely based on the career of Dr. Eric Manheimer and his memoir Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital, also stars Freema Agyeman, Janet Montgomery, Jocko Sims and Tyler Labine.

I will continue with Anupam Kher day after tomorrow.

Dinesh Kamath's column 'Anupam Kher supports Kangana' that was published in Newsband

Anupam Kher supports Kangana

By Dinesh Kamath

But Anupam Kher is not a bad person. He raises his voice whenever some injustice is done to any person. For example, just when Kangana Ranaut seemed alone in her war with Bollywood actors and filmmakers, veteran actor Anupam Kher has stepped up in her support. In a recent twitter interaction with fans, Kher was confronted by a user in the matter that aims to paint a target on Kangana. Nobody from bollywood is supporting Kangana’s Manikarnika movie. Can you please tweet in her support?” the fan wrote. The actor replied, “KanganaRanaut is a ROCKSTAR. She is brilliant. I applaud her courage and performances. She is also the real example of WomenEmpowerment”.

Kher’s response comes days after hostilities against Kangana witnessed an uprise. First, after the film’s release, her co-director Krish started speaking out against the Manikarnika actress. Accusing Kangana of stealing directorial credit, he said, "I am curious to know who will work with Kangana after the kind of reputation she has acquired for undermining the director and taking over a project.” Then actress Mishti Chakraborty, who plays the role of Kashibai in the film, claimed that her screen time was reduced when Kangana took over the role of the director from Krish. She also accused Kangana and Kamal Jain (producer of Manikarnika) of lying about re-shoots and haggling for extra dates.

Kangana, however, was not willing to have her back against the wall in the matter, with all the slander and spite coming her way. She reiterated that now that the film is out and successful, they (Sonu Sood, Krish, Mishti) are jealous of her. She even saw this as an opportunity to take a dig at the who’s who of Bollywood. She said that Bollywood often ignores her when her films release. About Alia Bhatt, she said that the actress did not support her when Manikarnika released, even though she always responded over the former’s films like Raazi. About Aamir Khan she said that she travelled for the actor’s films' screenings like Dangal and Secret Superstar, but it was a sad state of affair that he never showed up for her film’s trails.

Alia consequently responded to Kangana’s complaints, but Aamir is yet to take a stand in favour or against the actress. With Kher coming out in her support, it looks like she has some friends looking out for her.

I will continue with Anupam Kher tomorrow.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Stop all kinds of tortures' that was published in Newsband

Stop all kinds of tortures

A new anti-torture legislation should come up to stop all kinds of tortures. Tortures like Custodial torture, Dismemberment, The Arthashastra prescribed mental torture, biological and chemical experimentation on humans — prisoners etc. should just stop.

 Is sadism is an inherent part of human nature? That’s what the history of power, of authority and control questions. The practice of custodial power is about men — and sometimes, women — who are in positions of power, even if for a brief while and over a limited terrain, having custody over a powerless person. It becomes something of a sport for the human “Gods” that rule mere humans. “They kill us for their sport,” Shakespeare said of “the Gods”.

The death penalty is a close kin to this lawless and heartless game. Torturers are invariably sadists. Mary Surratt is not a well-known name. She was the first woman to be hanged in the U.S., in 1865, under due process. Her crime: being part of the conspiracy that led to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Hitler’s torturing of his prisoners would shame Satan, Stalin’s, torturing would have embarrassed Hell. The power-centres of these tyrants were hellishly real. Apartheid South Africa had its torturers trained in Algeria to inflict pain without leaving any signs on the body. The butchering last October of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is another case of torture. Be sure that not far from wherever we are, someone is being tortured by somebody.

India has practised and continues to practise the ‘third degree’ with impunity. But if torture is real, human revulsion with torture is also real. In the meeting on December 10, 1984, the UN General Assembly stirred the world’s conscience. It adopted the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Better known as the UN Convention against Torture, it sought to prevent torture around the world.

The Convention made state parties to undertake that “no exceptional circumstances whatsoever” will be “invoked to justify torture, including war, threat of war, internal political instability, public emergency, terrorist acts, violent crime, or any form of armed conflict”.

India took 13 years to sign the Convention, but sign it did, on October 14, 1997, during the 11-month-old Prime Ministership of I.K. Gujral. Hat’s off to him. He did what Rajiv Gandhi, V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, P.V. Narasimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda could not, did not, do. But signing is only the first step. But the convention should be ratified and followed or preceded by domestic legislation that commits the ratifying party to compliance.

The UPA II government introduced a Prevention of Torture Bill in the Lok Sabha in 2010 and had it passed in 10 days. The bill as passed by the Lok Sabha was referred to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha. The committee gave its report recommending the Bill’s adoption later the same year. National Human Rights Commission report said the figures showed custodial torture was rising. That Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. And was not revived by the 16th, the present Lok Sabha. Ratification of the Convention remains in limbo. Custodial torture remains in position.

21 years after signing the Convention, India is yet to legislate a law that will outlaw torture and enable it to ratify the Convention. Why is the Indian state unwilling to say, ‘no custodial torture in India’? Is it because the power over a captive’s body and mind is not easily given up?

In a matter that concerns ‘life and liberty’, the Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution’s guarantees. And when the one being guarded says, ‘I thirst,’ the guardian can only bring to its parched lips the waters of life.

The 17th Lok Sabha must take a stand. It has a choice: to join the civilised world in moving away from ancient barbarism or stay in the dungeons of blinding, benumbing brutality.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Intelligence failure is unforgivable' that was published in Newsband

Intelligence failure is unforgivable

How is it that a plan to carry out such a major attack on a national highway in a troubled State went undetected? The deadly Pulwama terror attack has once again brought nuclear-armed India and Pakistan close to a potential armed confrontation. The BJP leadership knows that if it plays its cards well, it might stand a chance to form the next government. If it bungles, that chance would become weak.

The JeM’s leaders are roaming about freely in Pakistan. This is unacceptable. Pakistan should realise that it would be doing a favour to its citizens by cracking down on terror organisations that are thriving on their soil.

It will take a great deal of political sophistication, backchannel reaching out, and comprehensive political vision to get Kashmir back on track. Do the politicians in New Delhi realise this?

There is intelligence failure. How is it that a plan to carry out such a major attack, by a local who was on the radar of the local police and other agencies, on a national highway in a troubled State went undetected? Why is that 78 buses with CRPF jawans were allowed to travel in one convoy?

For the BJP government, given that the elections are so close, its retaliation has to be credible, prompt and visible. China is closer to Pakistan today than ever before, Russia is warming up to it, and given the impending American drawdown in Afghanistan, there is a sense of triumphalism in Pakistan.

One possible way out is perhaps to talk to US diplomatically to get Pakistan to crack down on the JeM, but that will take patience, persuasion and discretion. A government caught in an election season may have too little of any of it.

The only problem in India's approach to Kashmir is absence of a ruthless approach. Even when the military is on a serious mission to neutralize terrorists they are faced by stone pelters. Which other military in world would tolerate minions interfering in a serious combat ops?

It is high time Govt stopped all niceties and descended own heavily on the tasks to integrate the state with rest of India, throwing out the miscreants.

The present situation is the result of directionless & appeasement policy of Congress, selfish, corrupt policies of local leadership. Strict policy of present Central Government is correct which will eliminate dirty elements in Kashmir.

A role for China in present situation should be strictly ruled out. China is waiting for such an oppourtunity. A role for China means India will have to surrender its claim over Kashmir.

What does response has to do with elections? Security of India is independent of elections. Whichever Government is there, we expect to respond swiftly and take pound for ounce strategy, not meekly like UPA did for 26/11.

UN should grant India the right of self defence. Election time time or not, India is under attack and there is nothing worse than the tawdry sanctimonious self-righteous speech in countering it.

Dinesh Kamath's column 'Anupam Kher falls in trouble owing to his film' that was published in Newsband

Anupam Kher falls in trouble owing to his film

By Dinesh Kamath

Anupam Kher gave an excellent portrayal of former Indian Prime Minister in the film Accidental Prime Minister. The court had on January 8 ordered police to lodge an FIR against Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna and 12 others on a complaint filed by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha with a plea that the movie presented Manmohan Singh and a number of other public figures in bad light. Muzaffarpur Police lodged an FIR against actors Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna and 12 others on a district court’s direction in connection with the movie ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’. The FIR was lodged at the Kanti police station after the court took objection to non-compliance of its January 8 order in this regard.

Kher, Khanna and 12 others named in the FIR are associated with the movie ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ based on the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.The complaint was filed by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha with a plea that the movie presented Manmohan Singh and a number of other public figures in bad light. Ojha said he had moved the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate Saba Alam on February 4 to mention that its order was not complied with by the police. On this, the court issued show-cause notice to Kanti police station through the Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police after which police lodged an FIR. Senior superintendent of police Manoj Kumar ordered the police station to comply with the court’s order.

Police lodged the FIR under IPC sections 295, 153, 153A, 293, 504, 506, 120B and 34 which relate to promoting enmity among different groups, sale of obscene objects, insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal conspiracy etc. In his complaint, Ojha named Kher (who plays the character of Manmohan Singh), as well as Akshaye Khanna, who plays the role of Singh’s media adviser Sanjaya Baru, on whose book the movie is said to be based upon.

Others named in the complaint include actors depicting the roles of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president (then national general secretary) Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy Lal Krishna Advani and RJD leader Lalu Prasad. The producer, director and other key persons associated with the film were also named in the complaint. The complainant alleged that he felt hurt upon watching the promos of the movie, which was not released at that time, wherein the public figures were portrayed in a manner that projected a poor image of the country. The movie was released on January 11, 2019.

I will continue with Anupam Kher tomorrow.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Stop corruption at ‘bureaucracy’ level' that was published in Newsband

Stop corruption at ‘bureaucracy’ level

Vigilance Commission report says several high value transactions were made by K.P. Bakshi, then Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. They have flagged several ‘suspicious’ high value transactions during the demonetisation drive.

The said unusual transactions have emerged as a pattern from the PAN belonging to Mr. K.P. Bakshi and appear highly suspicious in nature demanding immediate investigation by the State government. Mr. Bakshi had retired on November 30, 2016, from the Home department.

The CVC report has pointed to a tip off from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), a wing of the Ministry of Finance, which has been monitoring cases of money laundering, illicit financing and other economic offences post demonetisation. Senior officials in the Income Tax and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) confirmed they were appraised of the report,

This is the sort of case, where an arrest should be made without any questions. Jailing a few hundred corrupt bureaucrats will greatly increase confidence in government/democracy.

When protectors become predators, we have to blame only our fate. Common man bore the blow meekly because he thought fraudsters will be trapped by demonetization. Anyway, now that all transactions are nearly out, government can probe to find culprits and assuage the sufferings of the common man.

Are all these disclosures, so late, on retired, unuseful bureaucrats approved by keeping an eye on the upcoming elections to showcase honesty and chowkidariness?

Yes, this is the kind of bureaucracy presiding over our lives and, across India. Enough of pampering of the third-rate job-seekers through reservations. Merit, only merit, can be the growth-engine for India now, wherever it lies.

This cannot be an isolated babu stashed with loads of money. Need to form a SIT with assist from CA firms to scrutinize all transactions during demonetization of all babus and engineers in government departments. A thorough enquiry needed on this issue in all States including GOI Officials alleged involvement.

Dinesh Kamath's column 'How Shahid Kapoor got converted from Zero to Hero' that was published in Newsband

Movie World

How Shahid Kapoor got converted from Zero to Hero

By Dinesh Kamath

Someone wanted to know the films in which Shahid was most and least stylish. For your information, for the first ten years of his career, he didn’t care much about his look. Hence he was never invited to walk for their brands earlier. In fact, the list of his ‘least-stylish’ films will be rather too long. In films, his focus is on getting the character right. He personally liked his look in ‘Padmaavat’, ‘Rangoon’ and the upcoming film, ‘Arjun Reddy’. The actor forgets himself while playing a role in the film and he gets entirely inside the character.

Shahid Kapoor had started as a background dancer in films like Dil Toh Pagal Hai, before making his debut in Ishq Vishk. It was during the making of this film that he discovered himself as an actor. He constantly went out of his comfort zone and never played safe. But surprisingly, he found success in choices that were unconventional and brave.

The actor has featured in films like Kaminey, Haider, Udta Punjab etc. He just believes in trying new things, even if one is swimming against the tide. This is a strange trait that he possesses since everybody always makes a safe choice because the profession in itself is so unpredictable. But the strange thing is that Shahid always found success in choices that weren’t safe. He just tries with full conviction, no matter what the end result is. That’s the secret of his success.

Shahid believes that swimmers who swim against the tide would be stronger than the ones who swim with it. That’s the reason why many consider him as the strongest swimmer.

The story of how he achieved his first breakthrough is very interesting. Having noticed Kapoor in the Aryans' music video "Aankhon Mein", the producer Ramesh Taurani was keen to cast him in a film. However, upon meeting him, Taurani thought Kapoor, who was 20 years old at the time, to be too young and underweight to become an actor, and encouraged him to wait for a few years. Kapoor, meanwhile, turned down a lead role in N. Chandra's sex comedy Style in hopes of working with Taurani. Taurani found a suitable project for Kapoor in the teenage romance Ishq Vishk (2003), which Ken Ghosh was directing for his company. Kapoor, who trained extensively for a bulkier physical build, was eventually hired. Before beginning work on the film, he attended acting workshops with Naseeruddin Shah and Satyadev Dubey.

Ishq Vishk tells the story of Rajiv Mathur (Kapoor), a high-school student who engages in a romantic affair with two classmates of contrasting personalities (played by Amrita Rao and Shenaz Treasurywala). Kapoor was attracted to the idea of playing an unlikable lead since it was a departure from the traditional portrayal of teenage heroes in Indian films. The film proved to be a sleeper hit at the box office and won Kapoor the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. After that there was no looking back for him.