Where there’s a Chaplin, there a Hoover.

 

Politics has always tried to smother creativity. Nowhere, have artists found complete freedom to express themselves. Right from the Catholic Church immolating the illuminati to the modern day ‘lobbied’ governments filtering the media the scope of imagination has always been confined to entertainment.

Charles Spencer Chaplin came to America to explore new avenues for acting. But, the land of opportunity didn’t extend a very warm welcome. He depicted this cold hearted gesture in his film The Immigrant. It was at this juncture that John Edgar Hoover, the FBI chief, intruded into the personal and professional life of Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin is known for vociferously portraying social issues in his silent films. On the other hand, Hoover had a strong dislike for him post a dinner party where Chaplin mocked Hoover over his anti communist idiosyncrasies. Form that night onwards Hoover wanted to bring Chaplin down to new lows where no individual had ever been before, and that too, on a public forum. While Chaplin was delivering classics after classics, incorporating issues like Capitalism, Great Depression and the Holocaust, Hoover was adamant on labeling him as anti American and a communist. Special agents were recruited to monitor Chaplin’s life on all fronts. His telephone lines were taped and his movements were recorded. His interactions, especially with women were under strict surveillance. Chaplin had to suffer a lot of character assassination when he was falsely implicated into taking legal custody of his alleged illegitimate daughter with an aspiring actress Joan Barry. Chaplin was falsely tagged a communist and eventually driven into exile with his wife Oona O’Neil.  J. Edgar Hoover, on the other hand served as the director of FBI for over 50 years.

Both Chaplin and Hoover are colossal figures of their traits. They both are legends with their share of followers. But, more significantly, both these individuals stand as symbols, with Hoover as the oppressor and Chaplin as the indomitable artistic spirit. The clash of their two ideologies is evident in everyday scenario where oppressor tries to dictate terms while the rebels never give up. The notion of who is good and who is bad, keeps on changing sides. Charlie Chaplin was an unconquered soul while John Edgar Hoover was a patriotic tyrant. They both lie within all individuals and whose side we cling on to, is our call for the making. Chaplin’s lifetime achievement award, given to him in the very country that out casted him is the proof of the fact that freedom always thrives over suppression.

 

जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

कहीं  किसी ग़रीब का बच्चा मर रहा है ,

कहीं कोई बेसहारा सर्दी से ठिठुर रहा रहा है ,

और मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

कितनो के अरमानो कि चिताएँ जल रही हैं ,

कहीं किसी कि बेटी अनचाहे मन से कुछ कर रही है ,

और मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

कोई पत्थर दिल कहीं मासूम मुस्कुराते फूलों को कुचल रहा है ,

किसी के मन में द्वेष तो किसी के मन में मलाल पल रहा है ,

और मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

जिन अस्मिताओं को जागना था वो संसार में आने से पहले ही सो चुकी हैं ,

जिन प्रतिभाओं को उत्कृष्ठ होना था वो भयावह तम में खो चुकी हैं,

और मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

जिन हौसलों को आसमान छूना था वो विकारों के चक्रव्यूह में फंस  चुके हैं ,

जिन ख़ूबसूरत पलों को दिल में संजोना था वो दलदल में धंस चुके हैं ,

और मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

कहीं बूढ़ी आँखें किसी की  राह देखते सुर्ख़ हो चुकी हैं ,

कहीं नफरत की  आँधी लहू के बीज बो चुकी है ,

और मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो !

जहाँ  प्यार  का कोई मोल नहीं ,

जहाँ मिठास के दो बोल नहीं ,

जहाँ  हर ज़बान खून की  प्यासी है ,

जहाँ हर घर में मायूसी कि कोख़ में पलटी उदासी है ,

जहाँ चमक धमक के आगे  सच्चाई हार जाती है ,

जहाँ ईमान की आवाज़ सिसक कर रेह जाती है ,

जहाँ दोग़ले आदर्शों और सिसकती सच्चाई के बीच मंथन हो रहा है ,

ऐ खुदा, क्या ऐसी मक्कार दुनिया में मुझे जन्मदिन मुबारक हो ?!

The guy next door is no more

 

“Farooq Sheikh !! Cannot believe he is gone. There was an absence of any kind of pretense in his demeanor, or towards his work !!” tweeted Amitabh Bachchan paying his last respect to the veteran Farooq Sheikh who passed away after a heart attack on December 27^th, 2013. From actors to fans, most of  Twitter was flooded with grief messages to mourn the loss to the industry. Sheikh, 65, died in Dubai where he was for a concert. Sheikh was last seen in Bollywood movie ‘Club 60’.

His acting style was very subtle and effortless. He was best known for his work in Hindi films from 1977 to 1989 and for his work in television between 1988 and 2002. His major contribution was in Parallel Cinema or the New Indian Cinema. He had worked with directors like Satyajit Ray, Muzaffar Ali, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Ketan Mehta.

He had acted in many tv shows and performed on stage in famous productions such as Tumhari Amrita (1992), alongside Shaban Azmi, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. He won the 2010 National Film Award for Nest Supporting Actor for Lahore.

Initially, he worked with IPTA alongside directors like Sagar Sarhadi. He debuted in the 1973 film Garam Hawa in a supporting role besides Balraj Sahni. The film is credited for being a pioneer of a new wave of Hindi Art cinema. He formed a very successful pair with Deepti Naval. He went on to act in several notable films such as Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977), Noorie (1979), Chashme Buddoor (1981), Umrao Jaan, Bazaar, Saath Saath, Rang Birangi, Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983) and Biwi Ho To Aisi(1988) which are deemed as cult classics.

The entire film industry is going to miss this gentleman with hopes that the new talented pool of actors like Abhay Deol, Shreyas Talpade and others carry on with the leagcy of the guy next door that Sheikh brought the audiences so close to.

Fare thee well Eusebio

 

Eusebio da Silva, the Portugal football legend passed away on the 5^th of January due to heart failure leaving behind an unparalleled legacy. Also known as The Black Panther and The Black Pearl, he is regarded as one of the all time greats. Nicknamed the Black Panther, he was known for his speed, technique, athleticism and accurate right-footed shot, making him prolific goal scorer and one of the greatest free-kick takers in history. 

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira was born in the colonial capital of Lourenço Marques. He moved from his native Mozambique to the Portuguese club Benfica in 1961. His rise from poverty to stardom is the dream path that upcoming footballers should follow. He was the complete package who could rattle the opposition defense like a house of cards. In his career he scored 733 goals in 745 matches. He was top scorer seven times in the Portuguese league and was European Golden Boot winner twice. He won the Golden Boot for top scorer in the World Cup Finals, in England in 1966 with nine goals in six games.

After retiring from international circuit he lived in Portugal for the rest of his life, acting as a football ambassador for both his adopted country and Benfica. Tributes started pouring in from across the globe after Eusebio’s demise. "Portugal is mourning. Eusébio, the King of Portugal's 1966 team and the eternal symbol of the country, national team and Benfica passed away" said Portugese Football Federation.

He is survived by his wife, Flora, two daughters and several grandchildren.