When Lata Mangeshkar came to Doordarshan...

On 28 September 2013 the Melody Queen Lata Mangeshar will complete 84 years. We are lucky to have been born during the life and times of Lataji

Her golden voice has been a paneca to our souls. . Through this Post I wish her a long, happy and peaceful life. May she continue to inspire us.

Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar or Lata Didi as we address her,

visited DDK Mumbai on 23rd April 2004 , as the chief guest for the Sahydri Navratna Awards. Since Broadcasting schedules are time bound , I had to take her date well in advance. I was told she had a weakness or liking for Orchids. I bought some of the prettiest orchids I could lay my hands on. It was a sight to see Lata Didí's expression . Like a child the smile ran on her face. "How do you know that I like orchids" said Didi, while holding them. "I did my home work Didi before coming to you ", was my immediate response.

Needless to mention she accepted the invite but with a rider. She will be with us, only for half an hour . I agreed, but destiny had something else in store . I remember she had a severe headache when she arrived at Doordarshan. I told her she can leave in 10 minutes, after she had inaugurated the show. But to my surprise she did not leave.

Her reason to sit through the entire function, in her own words was, "It is a very well conceived show and a far cry from what the pvt TV channels are producing . I do not want to miss it . Sharma if you can organise some tea and medicine , I would like to watch the entire show". Andhaa kya chahe do aankhe...... And rest is history. Lata Didi sat for full three hours with us. As usual after the show she complimented us and the following remarks in Marathi language were etched in the memoir book of DDK Mumbai
.

"Doordarshan madhey kelesya sudharna pahun faar anand vatla. Ya poorvi hey darshan doormach dhayve ase vaate. Pan aata maatr ha jhalela baddal abhinand aahe.Shri Mukesh Sharma yaanche mee abhinandan karte , dhanyavaad dete."

(I am very happy to see the changes made at Doordarshan. Before this, one only wanted to watch it from afar (pun on the name Doordarshan). But now these changes are truly commendable. I not only congratulate Mr. Mukesh Sharma but thank him for it as well.)

THANK YOU LATA DIDI FOR THOSE KIND WORDS......................

SHABANA AZMI..... AND THE ART OF LIVING...

SHABANA AZMI..... TURNS 60...

During my tenure with Children's film society, I had an opportunity to work very closely with Shabana Azmi .

Though I had not known her prior to her heading the CFSI, but she devloped an instant liking for me vis a vis my passion to deliver things on time.

She was appointed the Chairperson by the VP Singh govt after Jaya Bachchan resigned in 1987-88. Like Jaya Bachchan she was a chairperson in a hurry and also wanted to revamp CFSI and make it a world class organisation.

She did manage to turn around CFSI quite a bit during her brief tenure. For the first time the video rights of CFSI films were sold in pvt domain. People could buy children's film off the shelf and view it at home, as releasing a CFSI film in the cinemas is not possible even today.

Using her good office, she invited the ace film maker Punkaj Parashar (Karamchand & Chaalbaaz fame) to make the costliest children film (Rs 37 Lakhs) of that time for CFSI. The film was "Aasman se Gira ". Incidently Raghubir Yadav (of Peepli live) was the main lead in the film. He also recorded a song for the film, which I am of the opinion was much better then what he sang for Peepali Live. Lets see if I can lay my hands on the song and post it on the web.

We continue to be in touch , after both of us left CFSI. I had a chance to share airline seat next to her, from Johannesburg to Mumbai. In another function we were the guest of honor, where we shared the dais for a pro-gramme on Women Empowerment.

In 2006 when I organised the DD Prena Puruskar (where the daughter is thanking her mother for all that she has done for her in life) Shabana Azmi readily accepted my request and came for the event with her mother Shaukat Azmi.

Last I met her at Juhu Beach. She had come for morning walk and it started raining . I offered my umbrella but she was fine without it. May she continue to provide Shelter to the needy and have nots through her public service programmes, as she enters 61st year of her life.

Many happy Returns of the day Shabanaji.............

Last Month I was invited by Mr Lalit Shah of Bhavan's Cultral centre to judge an Intra Campus debate on '' Advertising or Pervertising" .

It was a Campus Integration Initiative, wherein students of S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel College of Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai Institute of Technology, Bhavan's College of Arts, Scince & Commerce, Bhavan's Centre for Inter Disciplinary Studies, Microbiology Research Centre & A.H. Wadia High School took part in the debate.

The other judges were Dr Hemangi Bhagwat, Reader from K.J Somaiya college & Mr Deepak Ghaisas ,Chairman of Gencoval Strategic Services.

The participants did their best to raise the level of debate. How ever they could have done better. More over the supporters of Pervertising lost a golden opportunity to present their case . Every one felt that the new trend of linking the product with Public service Ads was a good initiative by the ad fraternity. Surrogate ads were condemned by all. All in all not a bad attempt by Bhavan's cultral center.

Incidently Ryan International Group of Institutions has taken an initiative called Iceplex Ad film Awards, wherein Students from 11 years to 21 years can participate by producing an ad film of one minute duration in various categories.

Last year the jury comprised of Johnny lever, Manmohan Shetty, Ila Arun, Anil Sharma (Director VEER) , Bhawana Somaaya (Ex Editor Screen), Justice Marlapalle( Sitting Mumbai High Court Judge) and Bheemsain (Father of Animation in India).

Interested students can log on to www.iceplex.tv . The last date for entries is around 15th oct. Its a prestigious global award function in its 3rd year.

M V Kamath turns 89 on 7th sept 2010.......

I have been quite lucky in getting and opportunity to not only work very closely with some of the nation builders of free India , but also received their long lasting love & affection. One such father figure who continues to shower his blessings on me and my family is ,Padma Bhushan M V Kamath', the former chairman of Prasar Bharati . He was the Washington Correspondent of 'Times of India' during 1969-78. He has also served as editor of 'The Illustrated Weekly of India'.

On 7th sept.2010, I called him up at Manipal ( he is currently the Honorary Director of Manipal Institute of Communication) to wish him a Happy birthday when he turned 89. He was in his elements. Touch wood his faculties are razor sharp. Mark Twain once said-- Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.

During his tenure as the chairman of Prasar Bharti he attended all my TV functions without fail. He has always been a source of encouragement for me. I had organised Navjyoti awards for the empowerment of the Girl Child . 9 girls from the poorest of the poor families were selected with the help of UNICEF and were felicitated in a function wherein Mr M V Kamath , Raveena Tandon, Yukta mukhi, Aruna Irani, Madam Grace Pinto (of Ryan Education group), Rupa shah (Former VC) and others were present.

The posted video is a small speech by MV Kamath on the occasion.

Thus Spake.....Shekhar Suman

"It was so beautiful and unique experience to talk to all my well wishers and fans through this innovative, interactive, first of its kind show'' Hello DD''.

Mr Mukesh Sharma should deserve all the kudos and praise for this brilliant and valiant effort. He is known for his skill, diligence and vision. Keep up the good work Mr. Sharma we're all with you"...... Shekhar Suman

Thus Spake... Asha Bhosle

8/9/10 happens to be the birthday of the Melody Queen Asha Bhosle. In the year 8/9/02 she celebrated her birthday at DDK Mumbai. We organised a cake for her and she took calls from the viewers in the LIVE pro-gramme Hello DD. She may not remember it today, but that day she accepted the fact that this was the best birthday gift DD Sahyadri could

give her. The icing on the cake was her parting gift when she wrote these famous lines in the memoir book at DDK:

"Bahut dino ke baad Doordarshan pe aai hoon. Bahut badal gaya hai. Kaaran ye lagta hai ki jawaan station director ke aa jane se , ye accha badlav aaya hai. Ab yahan aana accha lagega ''. ASHA BHOSLE.....

THANK YOU ASHAJI AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY : 8/9/10

Awards.... Recognitions.... & DD Sahyadri..........

NAVRATNA AWARDS FUNCTION

Sept 4th, 2010 DDK Mumbai Telecast SAHYDRI CHITRAPAT PURUSKAR.

I was happy to see that in 10 years some thing new was produced by the kendra.

However DD being a public service broadcaster, could have thought of awarding the teachers (to begin with primary & secondary school) in Maharashtra.

A ''Sahydri Shikshan/shikshak'' award would go a long way in recognizing the good work the teachers are doing in shaping our future generation . I hope DD Sahyadri will think about it.

The present programming of the channel continues to be the same , what was envisaged by me nearly 10 years ago.

That reminds me, how in 2002 I had planned the Sahydri Navratna Awards.

Nine years of Navratna Awards......

To judge a person's success , dont just look at where they are now. But how they got there. How many obstacles they had to surmount, how many sacrifices they had to make. How many upheavels they had to overcome.It is the journey that tests the mettle of the traveller. For people like these the journey never ends.

These people strive on with their task, too immersed in their work to bother about applause and accolades. That was the reason I wanted to tell these people through Sahyadri, we want to recognise your work, we want to acknowledge your contribution. With no Strings attached, its our way of humbly saying "Thank you" .

Selected by an independent jury, these awards were conceptulised in the year 2002. Since then they have become a synonym to Excellence in Maharashtra.

The first ever Sahyadri Navratna Puruskar were given on 27th April 2002 at Juhu Centaur , Mumbai.

During my posting at DDK Mumbai (which incidentally has been the longest tenure served by any Director at DDK, all over India), I had a chance to honour 45 personalities of Maharashtra in a span of five years viz. Sachin Tendulkar, Baba Amte, AmolPalekar, Ajit gulabchand (HCC), Mrinal gore, Namdev Dhasal, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Prabhakar Panshikar, Dr Vijay Bhatkar, Dhanraaj Pillay, Sulochana, Rahul Bajaj to name a few....