House Of Hobbies - 7 -- Nilima Moon: Carved creations

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Nilima Moon: Carved creations

(Nilima Moon with her son Dakshesh)

ALMOST all bright students get chalk-sticks as token of appreciation from teachers, but very few of them can see the pillars of the Royal Palace hidden in these fragile stalks. As a class-monitor in Dharampeth Girls’ High School, Nilima Hazare (now Nilima Moon) used carve pillars in the chalks. The habit of searching for ‘art’ in mundane ‘articles’ was born right there. Lucky girl, she was noticed by Sudhakar Phatak, her teacher, and city’s well-known soap-carving artist.


“Phatak sir asked me to switch over to soap-carving as chalks cannot be preserved for more than a few days,” said Nilima, a student who has made her teacher proud by creating masterpieces from soap.

A simple bath soap, when she starts carving, turns itself into various forms of Lord Ganesha, or a mother loving her child, or Bhagwan Buddha in deep meditation, or SRK in his typical pose, or just anything that Nilima wishes. “All I need is a carving fork, specially designed by Phatak sir,” Nilima humbly says. However, the cutter is only a gadget. It needs hours of concentration, dedication and skill to carve a delicate small-sized soap.

“My brother, Sachin used to bring large sized washing bars for me. He encouraged me a lot,” says Nilima, who became a popular as soap-carver, right in her college days. She participated in several exhibitions. “Once I had made a Ganesh idol from soap particles left after carving. Since then, nothing goes in waste,” Nilima points out showing a colourful Lord Ganesh idol.

“After exhibitions, Girls, astonished by the art, used to approach me for classes, so I tried to teach it to many. But, the complicated job bored them,” Nilima shares with her signature attractive smile. “No problem. I am okay with it. I am searching for new ways in this art by myself,” she continues.

Recently, Nilima has developed ‘water therapy’ to join two or more soaps together which will expand the platform for carving. “But these days, I find less time for this,” she smiles once again, as her son Dakshesh, who is celebrating first birthday on October 3, crawls into her lap.

“One of my friends told me not to get married if I have to quit soap-carving after that,” she remembers, “But I am lucky. Instead of complaining for over-expenditure, my husband Dheeraj and in-laws feel happy when I purchase a few more number of beauty soaps,” this time she gives smile to her mother-in-law busy with Dakshesh. At her house, situated in crowded lanes of Sadar, Nilima has number of soap arts, covered with cotton, and packed in a plastic box. Every minute detail, facial expressions, and eyes are carved so aptly, that it is very hard to believe that the figures are made of bath soaps. “Why not? The name itself is ‘beauty soap’, so ‘beauty’ can be carved out from it,” Nilima greets with the same attractive smile!

House of Hobbies - 6 -- Arun Gulhane: Marvelous memoirs

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Arun Gulhane: Marvelous memoirs

As a schoolboy, models of buildings and other projects kept in the office of his neighbor, an architect, used to fascinate Arun Gulhane. “I used to spend hours watching those models with eyes and mouth wide open,” says he, whose fascination towards replicas of buildings not only gave him a leisure pursuit of a lifetime but also, after thirty-five years, a reason and strength to live life to its fullest, without complaining to destiny for the tough times.


“Like any other boy, I began with making cardboard models of houses and theatres. However, my replicas started looking more real when I used the Japanese Art Board, which is now out of Indian market,” recalls Gulhane, whose art works -- replicas of famous temples and monuments in India made up of ivory paper, century paper, cardboards, and art boards and lacquered with oil paint -- look even better than the original.

It was some three decades ago, when Gulhane joined IGGMC as technician, and found the unique set of tools he uses for cutting the paper with rare artistry –surgical equipment.

“Yes, the delicate cutting needs surgical equipment,” he says, while showing the instruments.

Gulhane, a science, law and management graduate, has no formal education in engineering or architecture. Still, he uses the graph paper, measurement instruments proficiently and follows geometry with such excellence that no replica loses its proportion even slightly. “It need months, sometime years, to complete one piece. Concentration and lots of patience are must to acquire this skill. But today’s youths don’t like to wait,” -- Gulhane’s reason as to why he has not been able to pass on the skill to some youngster.

His only son Vaibhav, an engineer, is working in Tatanagar. “He always supports me silently. He knows, this art is the only life tonic for me, particularly, since I was left alone five years ago by the untimely demise of my wife, Dr Saroj,” Gulhane expresses. “She was a great support,” he pauses, and switches over to another topic.

Born and brought up in the city, Gulhane wants to live and love Nagpur for his lifetime. “That was why I donated two of my masterpieces to the Central Museum,” says he, showing the photographs of replicas of Maharaja Bakhtarsingh’s memorial in Alwar, and Maharaja Jaswant Singh’s memorial in Jodhpur. These photographs leave one just awe-stricken. But the artworks are no more available in the museum.

“Careless, they literally ruined my hard work. When I asked them to return them back, the curator did not even respond properly,” he laments. But this irresponsible act of the Central Museum authorities failed to dampen his spirit. “After retirement, I find lots of time and solitude. I have the graph papers and sketches of those pieces. I will re-create them,” the man says with a confident smile, brought on by his rare hobby.

House of Hobbies - 5 -- Vintage Collection

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Diana Hormusji: Vintage Collection 

 (Mrs Diana with her collection)

“I REALLY don’t think it’s worth,” says Mrs Diana, a sexagenarian Parsi woman, welcoming us to her bungalow with a huge front-yard full of lush greenery and flowers – hard to find these days in Nagpur. Tall and strong, the trees around indicate the age of the house and also that it must have many reminiscences to share. But according to its owner, her collection of the precious items, particularly of spoons, is ‘not worth’ as compared to others she had seen or heard about. It may be true, especially for this woman who has travelled widely in India and abroad. But, hundreds of spoons from various countries, based on various themes, rare glassware, souvenirs, Chinese perfume bottles, select antique pieces, and much more leave everyone astonished.

“I have not collected these by my own. Many of these come right from my grandmother, many from my mother, and some are gifted by friends and relatives,” says Diana, whose father used to purchase artistic glassware from Chennai (then Madras) to add to her collection -- that too, for just for Rs 1 or 2 of that time. A born Nagpurian, she was a student of Tata Parsi Girls High School, and Nagpur University’s medalist in Political Science.
After getting married to an Air Force Officer, Diana got a chance to visit and live in many states of India. Everywhere, she collected people – and they added things to her collection. Count from her grand mothers’ time, and her collection is almost three generations old now.

As we enter the drawing hall decorated with antique pieces, statues, pots, and photo frames --everything well-arranged in typical Parsi neatness – she pulls the old black buttons down, and artistic chandeliers start illuminating the hall. British-age ceiling fans, with unusually huge center-lobes, start whirring, she unlocks the glass showcase full of spoons, and the world tour starts. “These are from America; these are from Europe, these from China, these are Indian,” she points out one by one. Each spoon has different design, different value, and different story.
“I do collect spoons, but I don’t like ‘chamchagiri’ at all,” she makes atmosphere lighter. The collection further shows decorative pieces from many parts of the world, including the Chinese perfume-bottles painted from inside. “Foreigners have a great value for antique things, which we lack” she expresses.

“We must learn to value old things,” she says. The ancestral treasure will be traditionally passed on to her daughter, who is a teacher in Bangalore. “She teaches to dyslexia-hit students,” the proud mother says.
Reluctant initially to show the collection, Mrs Diana says, all this was collected and kept only for self-satisfaction and she don’t want any publicity.

However, only the fact that such collection and collector lives in the city, will please a true Nagpurian.

House of Hobbies - 4 -- Shweta Bhattad: Mouth-watering mirage

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Shweta Bhattad: Mouth-watering mirage

(Wax Modeler Shweta Bhattad)

If Shweta Bhattad offers you something to eat, just hold on and check the dish out. This charming, fair girl in her mid-twenties will officially become Master of Fine Arts from Maharaja Sayajirao University, (MSU), Baroda, next year; however, she has already earned mastery in creating delicious-looking mirage in the form of wax art. “Kids cry for ice-creams and fruits, pani pooris water youngsters’ mouths, and my friends impulsively eat up the sweets before I can tell them that these are made of wax.” So real are the creations by this wax-modeler.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in sculpture from CISFA, Shweta never had a formal training in wax-modeling. “Because no one teaches this,” she says. She developed fascination for wax while studying in ‘crucial’ Class XII. “Initially, I used to make candles -- then colorful ones -- and later of various shapes. There was the all-important HSC exam, but my parents never stopped me,” says Shweta, while crediting every achievement in her flourishing career to her parents, Usha and Purushottam Bhattad.

After winning bagful of awards and critical acclaim over the years for her unique style of sculpture-making, she was selected by prestigious MSU, Baroda last year – a matter of pride for the Orange City. Well, but the reason behind her choosing the Fine Arts lies right here in the wax. “I was trying to make out something from wax. To get proper knowledge of shades, I opted for Fine Arts,” says the scholar, who is expecting to grab a fellowship for foreign studies next year and to visit famous Madame Tussaud’s Museum someday. “It’s a very complicated job to melt wax, mix colours– that too, in the exact quantity, keeping in mind that the wax changes colour as it cools down. It is not possible to paint the piece or to cover a food item with transparent wax to make an art piece. To make it look real, you have to work hard, for hours and days and weeks, without losing concentration, all for one art piece,” Sweta shares her experience.

“Mummy is a master in deciding colour quantity. It will be impossible for me to work without her help. Tins and tins full of wax have gone waste during my initial days. But Papa never said ‘no’ to purchase another tin,” she says even as her father looks on with an indulgent smile. “We just could not stop her after seeing the magical creativity,” he says.

“For making rice, or noodles, she holds hot wax on her palms to shape it. This hurts,” – a mothers’ concern. Shweta dreams of creating a wax museum in Nagpur in which each and every food item will be ‘waxinated.’ Let’s share the dream with the Orange City’s own budding Madame Tussaud.

House of Hobbies - 3 -- Subhash Sharma : Houseful collection

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Subhash Sharma : Houseful collection

SOME thirty-three years back, a school-boy stole a few old coins, kept carelessly in a tool-box of his friend’s radio repair shop. But the very next day, he went back, returned the coins, and confessed to the theft. “The coins had developed a feeling of guilt in my mind,” tells Subhash Sharma, whose friend eventually gifted the same coins to him for his honesty. “He kept silver coins and gifted me the copper ones. That day was a day of ecstasy in my life,” Sharma, whose search for the similar ‘day of ecstasy’ began with that very moment, he says.

Owner of an automobile reconditioning workshop near Shukravar Lake, Sharma has been collecting antique pieces, coins, historical belongings, brassware, watches, dials, locks, gramophones, stamps, stones, vintage equipment, arms, swords, pots, lanterns, knives, sculptures, historical notes, books, and what not – since the last three decades. “I am not bound to a particular theme. I just add, whatever appeals to me,” he said, while showing his collection, very neatly preserved and beautifully displayed in a personal museum on the
second floor of his bungalow in Dhantoli. “It comes from within. Your passion is enough to become your inspiration and motivation and encouragement,” claims Sharma, who speaks excellent Marathi.

Sharma’s collection has silver punch-marked coins of all 16 Janapadas (185 BC), swords probably of Maratha age, centuries-old locks, Tamrapatras (brass plate inscriptions), bhojpatras, and equipment of stone-age brought from excavation sites, he claims.

Other than professional sellers and numismatic societies - the common sources of coin collectors – Sharma has an additional and exciting source. “The Zarekari or Sonzari community people residing near rivers and water bodies dive deep and bring coins. The rivers with old forts around, like Paoni river near Nagpur, are full of such ancient coins. It’s a luck factor. You have to go there and find out,” the ‘lucky man’, who has found hundreds of coins from rivers till date, says.

It was his passion for history which inspired his wife Varsha to complete MA in Ancient History after marriage. She is now pursuing PhD on ‘Copper punch mark coins in India’. They have two school-going daughters, Mili and Sakshi, equally interested in history and collection. “Family support plays vital role,” accepts Sharma, a college drop-out, but an authority on ancient history after reading hundreds of books from all over the world. He can decode ancient scripts like Brahmi and others. However, he laments lack of awareness in India about our rich heritage. “James Prinsep, a British official deciphered Brahmi, the oldest Indian script, once termed ‘meaningless’ by our philologists,” he shares.

It’s a fantastic story of how a kid’s fascination for some old coins took the form of systematic study. Well, much more to come in future, as Subhash Sharma’s search for another ‘day of ecstasy’ continues.

House of Hobbies - 2 -- Prashant Baitule: Small wonders

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Prashant Baitule - Small wonders

(Prashant Baitule with his wife Yogita)

“I can do better than this.” This statement of Prashant Baitule, after watching his sister’s beautifully crafted miniature piece displayed at a marriage function, was rewarded with a loud hoot of laughter. Especially so because ‘Taai’ was a trained bamboo craft-maker. “Everyone was praising the piece, so, my reaction was surprising for her. But, it was spontaneous. I had never touched a bamboo stick before, but I just felt it within, and uttered those words,” Prashant recalls the incident in 1990 after which he purchased a bamboo chatai (sheet made up of cane slices) and a box of adhesive, and started working.

Almost two decades have passed since then, and today, the drawing room of the 1BHK flat of this Irrigation Department clerk, in Madhuban Apartments, Wanadongri, is full of beautifully crafted miniature tables, chairs, table-pieces, houses, cycles, rickshaws, chariots, cars, and much more – every item crafted with microscopic detailing.

“Other than a ten-rupee ‘chatai’ and some adhesive, I hardly spend money on my hobby as every other decorative item comes from waste material,” he says. Old buttons and discarded ornaments turn into shining lights, cloth pieces cut away by his dress designer wife, Yogita’s graceful curtains, hard transparent packing of shirts becomes table-glass, pages of last years’ table-top calendar become rooftop – Prashant’s list of getting the best from waste is unending.

The most astonishing feature of Prashant’s miniatures is ‘perfect measurement’. The chariot may have four wheels, but their radius never defer even by a millimeter. Each of the ten steps in a five-centimeter staircase is of exactly the same length. Being a science graduate and working in a technical field for some ten years is important, but not enough to acquire such perfection. “Yes. It is an ancestral gift. I used to see my father Sadashivrao, designing gold ornaments, our traditional profession,” reveals Prashant.


“I usually gift a cane-chair that can be used as a mobile-stand to my friends. It has become a common feature in my office these days,” he smiles. “Relatives ask us to gift craft pieces,” his wife adds. “Sticks move with magical flexibility in his hands. When I tried, they broke into pieces,” she praises. While for Prashant, the skill is an outcome of passion and practice.


“The evening hours I spend with sticks recharge me for the next hectic day,” he says. His school-going son, Nishant also joins him these days. Together, they have a dream to own a duplex and name it after Prashant’s mother, Rama. A cane-replica of the same is kept in the show case.


“We dream of this house. One day, it will come true,” Baitule says with the same confidence, that he had shown some twenty years back, saying, “I can do better than this.”

House of Hobbies - 1 -- Ramsingh Thakur : Cooking coins

Crazy and creative, passionate and positive, influential and introverted, happy and hopeful – the hobbyists find their pleasure within. They select and collect; craft and create; preserve and protect, and enjoy in their own mysterious world. ‘House of Hobbies’ was my effort to
peep into the world of hobbyists in Nagpur. This series was published in The Hitavada in September-October 2010. Take a look...

Ramsingh Thakur : Cooking coins

Say Ramsingh Vijaysingh Thakur, and a lordly image of a broad-shouldered, mustached man wearing a rich Sherwani and posing with imposing an eagle-like bird for a portrait enters one’s mind. But our short-heighted, average-built version of ‘Thakur Sahab’ came in a simple pink cotton shirt and black trousers. In his two-room ‘mansion’ at Sakkardara, Thakur Sahab preserves his collection of coins and currency notes, a major part of which, according to him, comes from his family business -- an ‘untitled’ food stall at Raghuji Nagar, near Kamla Nehru College.

“We are famous for Chana-Poha, Samosa, and Bhaji Wadas. I collected many coins while running stall,” says Ramsingh, the only son of a cook couple Vijaysingh and Chandrikadevi. Ramsingh’s collection has almost every coin released in India since 1835. He also has Indian currency notes. RBI’s One rupee note, now outdated, used to have signature of India’s Finance Minister on it. Ramsingh has one rupee notes right from 1950 to recent times, featuring signatures of all Finance Ministers of the country.

Otherwise silent, Ramsingh starts speaking fluently in typical ‘KIlla’ tone as soon as we switch over to ‘coins’. “Fascination for coins was from childhood. I used to go to Itwari’s popular Shanivar Bazaar with Aai. Once she purchased a few coins from Ibrahim Khan, a local merchant, and handed those over to me. All started right there recalls Ramsingh. From then on, he started collecting coins in a box. However, it took a form of proper hobby when he visited the collection of late Arvind Ambhaikar.

Now, Ramsingh has properly-arranged albums and paper reproductions of coins with all minute details and history printed. A mere school pass-out, he speaks with an authority on the historical references, themes, and upcoming coins. Ramsingh suggested young numismatists to refer ‘Gullak’, a newsletter especially published by and for coin-collectors.

Interestingly, he has good collection of faulty coins and notes released ignorantly and later called back by the RBI. “A five-rupee coin on Lokmanya Tilak was released recently on which his name was printed as ‘Tilakji.’ RBI called back the coin and released new series with proper name. But before that, the coin was in my collection. Now I have both the coins,” shares Ramsingh. He has several such storied to tell.
No doubt, the collection of this young man is going to become a huge one with time. He may not become a broad-shouldered mustached man and pose with an eagle. But for sure, Ramsingh Vijaysingh Thakur has lots of photo sessions scheduled with his increasing collection.

Young artists to bring along novel concepts: Dr Jabbar Patel

“Men like Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt made all-time classics even when there was no financial help from the Government. Good film-makers always experiment, and bring something new on screen. However, commercial films are need of the masses”

We know Dr Jabbar Patel as a renowned theatre and film director of India. We know him for Ghashiram Kotwal - a classic in modern Indian theatre. We know him for classic films in Marathi cinema like Jait Re Jait, Umbartha, Simhasan, for his most acclaimed film Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, for national award winning Mukta, for Ek Hota Vidushak (Which revealed a serious actor in Laxmikant Berde) and so on.
However, a very few of us know that Dr Patel is a paediatrician, and, therefore, enjoyed himself truly in Doctors’ company’ on Sunday. He was the chief guest at the installation ceremony of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS). But, how one can resist to ask him questions about the classic school of cinema - of which he has been a stalwart?
Talking to a visibly relaxed Dr Jabbar Patel after the AMS function revealed his thoughts on ever-changing cinema, new generation directors and producers, and of course, his upcoming ventures.
“Cinema is a creative art. Concept of creativity changes with generations. Young directors and producers today, are exceptionally talented. As an encouraging fact, the Government provides financial assistance to film-makers these days. Many a youngsters is making really good use of this money,” expressed Dr Patel mentioning the internationally acclaimed films Harishchan-drachi Factory and Vihir. But out of 120-plus Marathi films produced this year, only three or four could won the critical acclaim. When asked about this, Dr Patel said, it depends on the mood and skill of a film-maker, and not on the Government aid.
Men like Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt made all-time classics even when there was no financial help from the Government. Good film-makers always experiment, and bring something new on screen. However, commercial films are need of the masses, he explained.
“Commercial and parallel cinema always progress hand in hand. In old times, I and Dada Kondke used to work together. N S Vaidya was our common editor. He had worked for me and Dada at the same time. Many a times, I borrowed Dada’s camera for shooting my films. These two are totally different genres of cinema,” Dr Patel recalled. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, his celluloid biopic, was dubbed in nine regional languages. However, it took a long time of nine years. “After the English version received the award, the decision was taken to go in for different dubbed versions. So, it needed time to write the script, go for script approval from prominent Sahitya Akadami winners, and then find proper voices for voice-over,” he said.
After Dr Ambedkar, Dr Patel is presently working on Mahatma Jyotiba Fuley. Simultaneously, he is working on a literary masterpiece by Marathi poet N D Mahanor - Ajantha.
“Mahanor’s Ajantha is a long narrative poem describing the love story of a rural girl and an English officer, who discovered the Ajantha caves. Making this film would be challenging, as well as exciting task,” he said. “Well, I would try to cope with the zeal of contemporary film-makers,” Dr Patel concluded with a smile.

The Master Stroke...

Otherwise wavery, hands of Syed Haider Raza turn firm with a divine capability when they hold a brush to draw lines on canvas. Otherwise weary, eyes of Syed Haider Raza sparkle with a spiritual light when they concentrate on shiny white canvas. Otherwise busy in watching the Shlok’s painting exhibition, art-lovers turn sculptures, immobile, to store the moment into their eyes forever. And otherwise a common white paper, the canvas at Jawaharlal Darda Art Gallery, turns into a masterpiece of contemporary art when the universal ambassador of Indian style of painting fills the hues of life into it. Raza paints the ‘Bindu’, as the birth and sustainer of creation and existence and moves towards shapes, geometry and colour and onto two dimensional depictions of space, sound and time. Nagpurians experience the once in a lifetime affair. Thanks to Jawaharlal Darda Kala Akademi, for bringing Padma Vibhushan Syed Haider Raza to the city on March 12

Introductory piece of a report of inauguration of Shlok's Art Exhibition that was organised at Nagpur from March 12 to 14.

‘Just believe in yourself and go for it!’

With three state-level silver medals for acting; a state award for best playwrite, hundreds of floral bouquets and countless rounds of applause this year;
Shweta Pendse, no doubt, is a shining star of Nagpur's cultural scenario. Majhiya Mana, a Marathi play written by her, was a record-breaker in both State festivals (Rajya Natya Spardha, and Kamgar Natya Spardha).
Shweta’s proficient playwriting skills won several awards, not only for her well-studied script, but also for other brightly depicted characters.
Being a student of biotechnology and Chemistry, Shweta attended national science seminar and presented award winning research papers. On the other hand, she kept learning Kathak, and Indian Classical Vocal, and performing on stage, and much more... Besides, she is a calligrapher. She knows Art and Fashion Jewellary Designing and making, and much more... She is a wildlife photographer, a state-level debater, an acclaimed anchor and much more.... She sings, she paints, she writes, she acts and still much more.... An energetic, responsible, self-motivated, result-oriented professional; Shweta not just tried hand, but also acquired recognition in each of these fields.
What inspires her? Clare Boothe Luce’s famous quote: "Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, " She doesn't have what it takes", They will say ," Women don't have what it takes."
It IS indeed the current scenario. Single mistake and they generalize it!!!, she says. "Though women have proved themselves in different leading sectors today, the society still concentrates on where a woman goes wrong whenever she steps out to do something, instead of being helpful."
The view is more sarcastic than encouraging or supportive.
May be because of this Women, in spite of having talents in them don't dare to come forward and explore the horizons for them.
I believe, A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.
“Had I kept thinking on whether ‘I really will be able to write a play and present it....’, I wouldn’t have ever seen this day,” she said.
“Just wanna say to all women- You have it in you dear eve....don’t think. Just believe in yourself and go for it!,” says Shweta!

‘Poet Soumitra helped actor Kishore Kadam to prosper’

On his visit to Nagpur, actor Kishore Kadam who writes poems under the nom-de plume, Soumitra, spoke exclusively with me. “When the actor in me gets depressed, the poet in me helps me to survive,” said the man, who had struggled a lot, worked a lot, and won critical acclaims; but waiting for a popular recognition. This interview was published in The Hitavada on February 22, 2010.

Being a part of commercial super-hit Natarang, National award winner Jogwa, and critically acclaimed Pangira is a matter of pride for Kishore Kadam; who is working in the industry since 15 years. But with selected roles in parallel theatre, challenging roles in art films, and a few commercial hits, Kadam is still waiting for the remarkable success. “I am an acclaimed actor, not a successful one,” he says.
Kishore belongs to the second generation of non-chocolate heroes of Indian theatre and cinema. He is following the footsteps of stalwart like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri.
Young Kishore was noticed by Theatre Guru Satyadev Dubey while he was doing theatre and poetry simultaneously in college days in Mumbai. Kishore is also an acclaimed Marathi poet today. But he was groomed as an actor in Dubey’s school.
“Dubeyji taught me how to live a rich life besides how to act. He is my Guru.” says Kishore, who was introduced to Mumbai theatre with productions like Bambai ke Kowwe. However, his ticket to national fame was the role of Harilal Gandhi, the Mahatma’s son, in the play Gandhi Viruddha Gandhi.
With plays like Gandhi Viruddh Gandhi, Yelkot, Gandhi-Ambedkar and the Prof Mahesh Elkunchwar’s classic Wada Chirebandi trilogy, he caught the critic’s eye time and again. But not a popular recognition. “I wonder, how and why I was away from publicity. Due to this, sometimes you get frustrated. Many a time, you become workless, unnoticed. This phase comes in the life of every actor like me. Some leave industry, some commit suicides, but a sensitive poet in me, never let me lose my passion. I kept on working, and still working with the same enthusiasm.”

List of Kishore’s achievements is long. But his to-do list is longer. He says, he is satisfied with his work but the pinnacle he is reaching for, still eludes him. “I think, it is good. Because, if I reach the final destination, I will stop.”
Kishore was best actor in Pune Film Festival since 2 years. Won many state and national awards for stage and theatre. But, people know him as Pandoba of Natarang.
“I strive to catch the gray shade of the character. No one is completely good or completely bad. I search and highlight the salient feature,” he said.
When asked, what next after Natarang and Jogwa, Kishore smiled saying, “I am waiting for a good role to come.”

Wah Ustad..!

Ustad Zakir Hussain’s fingers are full of magic. They beat the tabla to bring out lively music out of it. Otherwise lifeless, the instrument then creates magic. A touch of his fingers, and tabla brings rain, lighting, and even the sound of conch shells on the stage. Nagpurians, on Sunday, experienced the rare magic. The tabla maestro’s concert at Yashwant Stadium organised by Sakaal Media Group and Videocon, was a sell-out success, featuring the traditional repertoire on tabla in solo and duet. The evening featured electrifying improvisations on the sitar by Niladri Kumar, and on drums by Taufiq Qureshi.
An acclaimed composer, son and disciple of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha, and Zakir’s sibling; Taufiq started the eve with the ‘Ganesh Vandana’. He interacted in Marathi, and expressed the rhythm in breathing. Showcasing the traditional flavour and intricacies of Indian rhythm, interwoven with
contemporary world percussions; Taufiq enthralled all with his trademark style of body and vocal
percussions to create unique rhythmic motifs spanning across cultures.
With an African instrument Tabaltaal, Taufiq filled the venue with the waves of Indian folk music. With Punjabi Bhangara, he made the audience sing ‘Balle Balle’. With Gujarati Garba, he made them call ‘A ji re..’ while with Marathi Lezim, he made them shout ‘Ji Ji ra..’
Niladri Kumar, son and disciple of Sitar maestro Pandit Kartick Kumar, flashed his unparalleled brilliance with improvising style. He effortlessly created several mysterious dhuns in an unbelievable stream. After accepting several applauces, Niladri Kumar welcomed Ustad Zakir Hussain on the stage.
Listening Zakir Hussain requires highest vigilance and alertness. Because one gets transported into a time warp spiral by the relentless rhythms. The musical excursion began with the carefully selected repertoire. One of the most memorable renditions was his abstraction of the sound of Shiva’s dumroo (drum) and a magical recreation of the blowing of Shankhas (conch shells) played on the tabla!
This was followed by the rainfall-style on Tabla.
With every rendition, the applause grew louder with the finale forcing the audience to get on their feet, clapping long after the fusion had faded. The trio left the audience spellbound and wrapped the show with eternal dhun of ‘Raghupati Raghava Rajaram.’
Unfortunately, bad sound arrangement and delayed public response compromised what was otherwise an electrifying performance, distracting the audience from flowing into the mood of the rhthmic melody.
The tabla virtuoso of the highest standard, Zakir Hussain was felicitated for his contribution to both classical Indian music and cross-cultural music. Resident Editor of Sakaal Nagpur, Shripad Aparajit; Unit Head Sunil Londhe; Videocon branch head Saurabh Kumar felicitated the artists on behalf of the Orange City.