Wharton Rejects Narendra Modi, Welcomes Shabana-Javed

The Wharton School Of The University Of Pennyslvania has said no a lecture by Narendra Modi. However Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar are proceeding to the prestigious forum for a lecture.

But before that, the couple are currently at Cambridge University in London and the London School Of African & Asian Studies this week to address students.

Speaking from London Shabana said, We're here to lecture at the two prestigious universities. At the London School Of African & Asian Studies we're addressing students on the topic of, can cinema be used as an instrument for social change with special emphasis on the portrayal of women in our films. At Cambridge University we are lecturing on women, cinema and poetry. I am also getting an honorary fellowship at the students wing of the London School Of Economic.

At the London School Of Economics Shabana and Javed will be honoured for the inspirational work done in films and as agents of social change.

The cherry on the icing would be the lecture at Wharton later in the month.

It's a good time for us to feel happy with our lives,  jokes Shabana.

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Zoya-Reema - new Salim-Javed of Bollywood?

Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar are known as one of the best writer-duos in the Hindi film industry and it seems the latter's daughter Zoya is likely to repeat the same success story with writing partner Reema Kagti.

The legendary duo of Salim-Javed have written some cult films like "Zanjeer", "Sholay", "Don", and "Deewar", while Zoya-Reema have scripted together "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" and "Talaash".

Asked if she and Reema are the new Salim-Javed of the industry, Zoya said: "For that we will have to deliver around 25 blockbusters... There is no chance before that. Salim-Javed were amazing and we are very far away from that."

"When we write together then the ideas are very good and we finish the work soon. We both fight too much but we have immense trust and respect for each other. If she doesn't agree to certain things, I get a signal that there is some problem. We fight but it's not about our ego problem. I love working with her," added Zoya, 40.

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Directors are moving away from tradition: Javed Akhtar

Lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar, who has been in the film industry for four decades now, says directors of today are moving away from traditional filmmaking and hence losing their USP

'There is nothing wrong with Indian cinema, it is the filmmakers who have problems. They are moving away from the tradition because they are embarrassed of it.

The people who are making films listen to English songs, their interest in food, clothes and films are non-Indian. 'So how can we expect them to make Indian films?' Akhtar said while speaking on the topic of 100 years of Indian cinema at the CII Media and Entertainment Summit, 2012 today.

The 67-year-old, whose children Farhan and Zoya Akhtar are both directors, said that films nowadays are being made in an international format - shorter and without songs, which is hampering the culture. 'The songs are being played in the background and not included in the films at all. The movies are shorter. Indian films are losing their identity. Songs are integral to Indian films.

Removing them from our films is like omitting songs from an opera performance. They are removing what is the USP of Indian films, ' he added. On the other hand, veteran director and seven-time National Award winner Shyam Benegal feels young directors are rather doing a great job with their path-breaking films.

The 77-year-old, who himself is known for creating a new genre of alternate cinema, said, 'I feel that young directors are doing a great job. We have directors like Dibakar Banerjee, Anand Gandhi, who are showing a different kind of narrative in films. 'The work of the new directors are very interesting. They have a capability to hold on to the audience and that is what matters, ' he added.

'Sholay' director Ramesh Sippy feels that although there is no dearth of talent in the country, there is no backing. 'There are so many talented filmmakers, who are waiting to be noticed but unfortunately there is no one to back their project financially. So we cannot blame filmmakers for not doing a good job as we don't get to see those great films, ' Sippy said.

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Yash Chopra didn't compromise on ethics: Javed Akhtar

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, who worked with Yash Chopra as a writer in blockbuster films like "Deewar", "Trishul" and "Kaala Pathar", says the filmmaker never compromised on his ethics.

"The dialogues in his movies itself had literary values. One thing was highly appreciable about him was that in the 1980s, which was called the dark era of cinema...he took the challenge without compromising on his ethics, " Akhtar said on Times Now channel.

Javed Akhtar's wife and veteran actress Shabana Azmi also expressed grief over Chopra's sudden demise.

"Yash Chopra will be remembered because he made cinema he believed in. There was never a single indecent word in his movie. He has had such a long innings, " she said.

Chopra passed away Sunday evening at the Lilavati Hospital following multiple organ failure. He was suffering dengue the past few days. He was 80.

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