The Broadway – style musical play adoption of K. Asif’s legendary classic Mughal – E – Azam’ starring Dilip Kumar, Madhubala & Prithviraj Kapoor, which premiered at the NCPA (National Centre For Performing Arts) recently seems to have become an instant hit with one and all.

The production, which was helmed by acclaimed director Feroz Abbas Khan has opened to near unanimous acclaim and it is quite clear now that the makers have a winner on their hands. So much so that the public demand for the play prompted the makers to have additional shows of the musical extravaganza, considering the fact that all the shows are going housefull and tickets are selling like hot cakes.

The play, which is smashing records all over, will also has an extra show today on 31st Oct, 2016, which is celebrated as New Year at 4 pm and on Tues 1st Nov, 2016, which is celebrated as Bhaubeej. The much – awaited play will be performed at the NCPA – Mumbai till the 1st week of Nov, 2016 for a limited engagement of 2 weeks.

Mughal – E – Azam Play Mania Bowls Over One & All

The broadway – style musical play adaption of K. Asif’s legendary classic Mughal – E – Azam seems to have struck a chord & become an instant hit with one & all. The production helmed by master director Feroz Abbas Khan has opened to near unanimous acclaim and the verdict is loud & clear, this is one experience which is unmissable.

A lavish premiere event was hosted at the NCPA and comprised of the who’s who of the celeb world. From the scions of the 1st family of Bollywood – Randhir Kapoor & Rishi Kapoor (A hark back to their illustrious granddad – Prithviraj Kapoor who had essayed the role of Jahapanah Akbar in the original work) to the rich, beautiful & influential of our society, you had them all. Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Irffan Khan, Anubhav Sinha, Raza Murad, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Simone Singh, Fahad Samar, Lubna Adams, Manish Malhotra, Jackky Bhagnani, Aseem Chhabra, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Dhiraj Deshmukh, Perizad Zorabian, Anjali Tendulkar, Nandita Das, Mita Vashist were amongst the other dignitaries who graced the occasion. Top honchos from the corporate world also attended the event.

A standing ovation greeted the show on it’s conclusion & had the prominent personalities in a euphoric state.

Diwali 2016 is just round the corner and once again there will be a warfare at the Box Office turnstiles between the 2 big releases namely Ajay Devgn’s Shivaay, in which he acts & also directs, and above all Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which had undergone a spate of controversies recently due to the literal ban on the Pakistani actors which was imposed by none other than the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA). So much so that one of Karan Johar’s hero namely Fawad Khan had to run back to his own home ground for all that he was worth.

Normally, in the previous Diwali’s, such Clash of the Titans was usually between 2 Super Stars like say Shahrukh Khan & Salman Khan, to give just one example of a Star jodi, who really craved attention from the Box Office Goddess. But this Diwali the Clash of the Titans involve an actor – director Ajay Devgn (Shivaay) & a filmmaker Karan Johar (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil). And who wins the Box office race only time will tell. So let’s keep our fingers, toes & hearts crossed and let the best man, in this case Ajay Devgn & Karan Johar, win the Box Office turnstiles match.

And now as we all know this Diwali we have 2 big releases, obviously one is Shivaay which is the most ambitious project of Ajay Devgn and another is Ae Dil Hai Mushkil which is also a big offering from Dharma Production.

And even before the release of both the films, everyone has their “eyes” focused on both the films as well as the makers of both the films as they both are also facing bad comments or reactions from everyone including each other.

Actually speaking the dates clashes has started like a battle ground these days and more especially for acquiring the release dates of the most prestigious Indian film festivals. That apart our actors have started making great efforts like anything. And in their efforts they also end up spoiling their individual relations and also their relationship with each other.

And this so called warfare situations keep occuring whenever there are 3 big holidays like Diwali, Christmas & Ramzan Eid. So If any of the films gets released on these holidays the results are normally & fairly good on the Box office turnstiles. Sometimes these films really hits the Bull’s Eye and also turn out to be runaway Blockbuster hits. And because the Box Office collections of these festivals are extremely good, the actors also gain huge commercial value.

In last few years, most of the films were good and hence Salman Khan, Shahrukh & Aamir Khan also garnered a huge commercial value more than what they had gained previously. But everyone should understand one thing that these clashes are bound to happen more in future. So all the concerned parties, especially in future, will have to plan out the releases of their films keeping all these factual aspects in their mind. In fact they should formulate concrete strategic plans in future to gain more & more profits for all the movies which will be set for release on these particular holidays of Diwali, Christmas & Ramzan Eid.

In conclusion we would say that Instead of indecent behavior & feeling bad for each other we should also welcome all the films positively and wish good luck for all of them. Because this is sure that in the future not only their would be 2, 3, 4 but even more releases on these festive days. So we should all be prepared for that and plan the strategy in such a way that all the films should do good business.

So this Diwali let’s welcome and enjoy a grand Box Office success for both the Diwali releases; namely Shivaay & Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Here’s wishing Best of Luck to Ajay Devgn & Karan Johar for their respective film’s Diwali release.

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been finding himself in the news all of last week, not for his upcoming movie, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, but (and this is ridiculous) because of a certain actor in the movie. The director has been facing threats from the Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the film. In a candid interaction he stated that banning Pakistani actors seems far from a solution. “I understand the anger & the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pakistani artistes). If this was truly a solution, then one would take it.”

He further added that even speaking about it made him feel vulnerable. “I feel vulnerable & scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain & anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was always to put out a creative product out of love and nothing else,” he revealed.

The filmmaker also opened up about his battle with depression & loneliness, saying, “When you are 44 and lonely and are not in a relationship, it gets you worried. Because all the success that you’ve achieved means nothing if you cannot take it to someone else.” We were so sad hearing this from Karan! You truly don’t know what’s going on in someone else’s life, and he always seems so confident and the life of the party. We’re glad he’s talking about this – not only because it must be a weight of his shoulders, but that someone who is going through a similar situation might find the courage to speak out too.

The director also added, “You don’t feel happiness, or excitement, or any such emotion. I went through that and nobody other than you knows what you’re really going through. But now, after treatment & medication, those beats are coming back. The zing is returning.” But, it does get better … as he also mentions, “I have reached a ‘So What’ place. There are other things in life to find happiness and look forward to.”

This year the 18th Jio Mami festival brought together a selection of 10 of the best Turkish films especially curated for the Indian audiences. It was attended by Turkey’s Vice – Minister of Culture & Tourism, General Director of Cinema, Turkish Ambassador in New Delhi and many leading broadcasters, producers, directors, scriptwriters, actors & actresses. The aim was to enhance the political, the economic, the artistic & above all the cultural co – operation between Turkey & India.

The said project was organized by Television & Film Producers Professional Association (TESHIYAP), and supported by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, General Directorate of Cinema & Turkish Consulate General in Mumbai.

The 10 films being screened were ALBUM, MY MOTHER’S WOUND, THE BRIDE, SNOW PIRATES, WINTER SLEEP, EMBER, BLUE BICYCLE, DUST, WHISPER IF I FORGET & 8 SECONDS. All the 10 films were screened from the specially curated list of films for the Festival like MY MOTHER’S WOUND directed by Ozan Aciktan featuring Meryem Uzerli & Belçim Bilgin. The film tells us a touching love story about the trials & the tribulations of an orphan. While ALBUM directed by Mehmat Can Mertoglu featuring Sebnem Bozoklu, Murat Kilic, Riza Akin & Mihriban Er. It recounts the story of Bahar & Cuneytare an average middle – class couple with beliefs, dreams & pre – occupations typical of their provincial urban environment. THE BRIDE directed by Omer Lutfi Akad featuring Hulya Kocyigit, Kerem Yilmazer, Seden Kiziltunc, Nazan Adali, Aliye Rona, Kamran Usluer, Ali Sen & Kahraman Kiral. It entails the story of Haci Ilyas who migrates from the small town of Yozgat to Istanbul. 6 years later his wife Meryam & their son Osman also follows, little knowing that an inevitable tragedy awaits them. SNOW PIRATES directed by Faruk Hacihafizoglu featuring Taha Ozdemir, Yakup Kurtaal & Omer Uluc. It recounts the story of the inhabitants of Kars a remote city located on Turkey’s Eastern Border and their acute search for Coal. Their search leads the heroes to look where no one has looked before. WINTER SLEEP directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan featuring Haluk Biginer, Melisa Sozen, Demet Akbag, Ayeberk Pekcan, Serhat Kilic, Nejat Isler, Tamer Levent & Nadir Saribacak. It recounts the tale of Aydin who was a former actor but now runs a small hotel in Central Anatolia with his young wife wife Nihal & his sister Necla.

The other 5 films were EMBER directed by Zeki Demirkubuz featuring Aslihan Gurbuz, Caner Cindoruk, Taner Birsel, Istar Goksevensahinbas & Ayca Eren. It recounts the story of Emine’s husband who is detained in Romania and she finds herself on her own with a sick child in urgent need of surgery. BLUE BICYCLE directed Umit Koreken. It recounts the story of Ali who lives with his mother & his sister Inci in a small town of Turkey and after the death of his father he is faced with the dilemma of supporting his mother on a financial level.

WHISPER IF I FORGET directed by Cagan Irmak featuring Humeyra, Isil Yucesoy, Farah Zeynep Abdullah, Mehmet Gunsur, Kerem Bursin & Gozde Cigaci. It showcases the story of Ayperi whose life changes completely after she meets Tarik from the big city playing on his guitar who in turn makes Ayperi realise that she is indeed a talented musician. 8 SECONDS directed by Omer Faruk Sorak featuring Esra Inal, Fahri Yardim, Firat Celik & Don Muguel Ruiz. It recounts the story of Esra who feels caged by her familial relationships and laugushes in her job. She struggles in vain to get out of her moronic state. Yet in her dreams she creates for herself a secret existence which gives her relief. And last but not the least was a film called DUST directed by Gozde Kural featuring Oyku Karayel, Beran Soysal, Haji Gul Aser, Masud Ahmadi, Abdul Qadir Farookh & Muhammed Cangoren. It recounts the story of Azra who after her mother’s death wants to make her last wish come true. So she undertakes a dangerous journey to bury her mother in Afghanistan.

That apart one of the key initiatives at the Festival was a Turkish Indian Forum of Entertainment (Film & TV) Industry. It was attended by Turkey’s Vice – Minister of Culture & Tourism, General Director of Cinema, Turkish Ambassador in New Delhi, Founders & CEOs of leading Turkish production houses, high level representatives of Turkish line production houses & TV Channels, leading producers, directors, scriptwriters, actors & actresses from Turkey. The primary objective of the Forum was to forge new relationships between the Cinema & the TV industries of India & Turkey that will pave the way for collaborative productions, to build the legal foundation for co – production contracts & to contribute to the political, economic, artistic & above all cultural cooperation & solidarity between the 2 countries namely Turkey & India.

During the Festival, the Turkish Consulate General in Mumbai, H. E. Erdal Sabri Ergen, als hosted a Turkish reception with the attendance of the following guests: Turkey’s Vice – Minister of Culture & Tourism Hüseyin Yayman, General Director of Cinema Erkin Yılmaz, Turkish Ambassador in New Delhi Burak Akçapar, Turkish Consul General in Mumbai Erdal Sabri Ergen as well as prominent Turkish producers Birol Güven, Ali Gündoğdu, Faruk Turğut, Şükrü Avşar, Ömer Atay, ATV & Kanal D Representatives, Mars Distribution CEO Ferhat Aslan; successful Turkish directors Reha Erdem, Çağan Irmak, Ömer Faruk Sorak, Murat Şeker, famous actors Hazal Kaya, Sarp Levendoğlu & Kaan Taşaner.

Amongst the directors who screened their films at the Festival were Ümit Köreken, Gözde Kural, Faruk Hacıhafızoğlu in attendance. Some of Turkey’s leading Film & TV Stars also joined the Festival. They were Hazal Kaya, actress, TV Drama FERIHA shown in India, Kaan Taşaner, actor, TV Drama FATMAGUL shown in India & Ali Sarp Levendoğlu, actor, TV Drama LITTLE FORD shown in India.

In conclusion a little brief about Television & Film Producers Professional Association (TESİYAP) will not be out of place at this junture. So TESİYAP is an important professional organization of the Turkish production world. They protect the rights of its members: cinema & TV producers, collects & distributes copyright shares; works to organize events that promote & represent its members in national & international platforms. Its members are Turkey’s prominent film & TV producers, who export TV shows to 92 countries and whose productions reach more than 400 million viewers.