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BHAWANA SOMAAYA



Bhawana Somaaya has been a film critic for 30 years and has contributed columns to publications like The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, The Pioneer and The Sunday Observer. She is the former editor of Screen and has authored ten books on cinema that includes biographies of Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh Lexicon is her tenth book and third on Bachchan after The Legend (1999) and Bachchanalia (2009). Her books are a point of reference for students studying cinema at Whistling Woods, Manipal University and Symbiosis, Pune. Somaaya is the Film Expert with 92.7 BIG FM and gives Bollywood updates every morning at 10.15. She has a weekly show on Zee Cinema every Friday 9pm. She contributes weekly column to The Hans India and Janmabhoomi Pravasi. Somaaya is on the Advisory Panel of Censor Board of Film Certificate and is currently working on two more books.

Books authored by Bhawana Somaaya

1. AMITABHH BACHCHAN: THE LEGEND Published by Macmillan India Pvt Ltd Released in the year 1998 Priced at Rs. 450/-  Also available in Hindi- Amitabh: Ek Jivit Kinvadanti published by Macmillan India Ltd released in 2007- Rs 385 Amitabh Bachchan has played varied roles on screen, but off-screen the actor remains an enigma. Admired, envied, hated, hounded, his celebrity status transcends national boundaries. Published by Macmillan, the author captures the roller-coaster life of a superstar through incisive, introspective interviews. And the protagonist, Amitabh Bachchan, takes it all head-on, emotional choices, professional commitments, candid confrontation with controversies, allegations et al. Surviving both, the near-fatal accident on the sets, and political cesspool in real-life, his reflective personal accounts are beautifully blended with intimate analysis rendered by his actress-spouse Jaya Bhaduri, leading ladies and colleagues. A scintillating documentation of a legendary other success. A collector’s proud possession.

2. SALAAM BOLLYWOOD

Published by Spantech & Lancer

Released in the year 1998

Priced at Rs.350/-

Also available in Gujurati published by Navneet Publishers released in 2005-Rs 200

Insecurity is an overwhelming emotion in any creative profession. In the film industry, it is more so. Filmstars are peddlers of emotion and, therefore, there are more emotional wrecks in the film world than in any other place. There is shame and scandal, exhibitionism and eccentricity, but there is also an energy, a fatal attraction about the world of cinema that is obsessive. Once you’ve been a part of it you feel incomplete without it.

Amitabh Bachchan voted by the BBC internet poll as the star of the millennium has written the Foreword to the book.

3. TAKE 25 - Star Insights & Attitudes

Published by Sambhav Publishers

Released in the year 2002

Priced at Rs. 500/-

Also available in Marathi published by Mehta Publishing House in 2004- Rs 400

An interview reflects as much about the interviewer as the interviewee. It tells about the influences working on the journalist at that time and also of the box-office status of the stars when they made those statements. Still, the final responsibility of the spoken word lies with the star.

The quotable quotes, even if temporarily forgotten, have a way of bouncing back into print, and always, when the star is at a vulnerable phase.

Attached with a fresh feedback on the old quotes from every star featured in the book along with their autograph, the book has a preface by leading star Rekha and an introduction by Lata Mangeshkar.

Compiling interviews with prominent stars in the last 25 years, Take 25 looks at the stars as human beings and offers rare insights into star attitudes.

4. THE STORY SO FAR: On Screen, Off Screen

Published by The Express Group

Released in the year 2003

Priced at Rs.450/-

Also available in paper bag published by Indian Express Group released in 2004 Rs.450/-

The Story So Far is a veritable treasure trove of information for the film buff. Published by the Indian Express Group of Newspapers, it makes for a good reference book for those who want to do research on cinema, and adds to the knowledge of those “who feel passionately about Hindi cinema.”

Divided into four sections, it records landmark happenings in Hindi Cinema and Music over the decades. With exclusive pictures the book also provides listing of the most popular songs of the decade.

5. Cinema: Images & Issues

Published by Rupa & Co.

Released in the year 2004

Priced at Rs.595/-

The book carries some scattered observations and impressions from an editor’s notebook.

Capturing the fragmented frames of cinema. Some explored as academic study, while some retained as stubborn memories that refuse to fade. The collective images celebrate an undying passion for the fascinating medium.

The concerns for the issues came in much later. After one had sufficient exposure and the confidence to disagree and debate. One discovered that the same films evoked different responses and interpretations during different decades of growing up. And perhaps that’s the essence of cinema. To break the illusions and conjure new images.

6. Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography

Published by Roli Books Pvt Ltd.

Released in the year 2007

Priced at Rs. 495/-

Also available in Marathi published by Ameya Prakashan in 2008- Rs 295

Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography by Roli Books traces the journey of a simple South Indian film star raised to the sound of Shlokas and Tatu Kazhi. Hema Malini was born to become a dancer and pursued it as a passion even while at the peak of her acting career. The book captures her early grooming with various dance teachers, her foray into films, her reign as the box office queen, her marriage with Hindi Cinema’s leading star Dharmendra, her dance ballets and her experiences as a budding politician and member of the parliament. With intimate insights into the icon from her late mother Jaya Chakravarti and two daughters Esha and Aahana Deol, the actress opens the floodgates of her life to discuss herself as a daughter, mother and most importantly, as an individual.

7. Fragmented Frames

Published by Pustak Mahal

Released in the year 2007

Priced at Rs. 395/-

Cinema is all about creating and breaking illusions and the job of a critic is to comment on these illusions.

The ambience conducive of creating this make-believe world is best recognized as show business, a world of intrigue and mystery. There is no way a writer of cinema can ever escape the complexities or the celebrations of the dream merchants.

These dreams sometimes last a lifetime and sometimes fade away by twilight and yet all of them when they first sparkled on the big screen left foot steps in the sands of time…

That is the magic of the moment.

Over the decades many significant moments in cinema have been captured into books but many precious moments surrounding them have been lost because we didn’t seem to recognise the relevance of those moments or maybe didn’t lend it sufficient importance. Fragmented Frames are jottings from an editor’s note book. It is an effort to record those precious moments gone by and there is a simple way of testing them. If it was important enough to be commented upon when it occurred, it is important enough to be remembered.

8. Krishna – The God Who Lived As Man

Published by Pustak Mahal

Released in the year 2008

Priced at Rs. 350/-

Krishna — The God Who Lived as Man, originally written as Krishnaayan by Kaajal Oza-Vaidya, is translated from Gujarati to English by the eminent film critic Bhawana Somaaya. With seven books on show business to her credit, this is Bhawana’s eighth book and her first attempt in fiction and transcreation. After Fragmented Frames, this is her second book to be published by Pustak Mahal, this time under the imprint Hindoology Books, which is dedicated to exploring Hinduism and enlightening the readers about the various remarkable aspects of this religion.

The book is an imaginary, but close to real, account of Krishna’s life. It is an insight into his life as he looks back in time and ponders over the life he had lived. After the torturous Yadava yatra to Somnath where Krishna witnesses the devastation of his entire lineage, he arrives with a bleeding foot to Prabhas Kshetra.

It is here resting beneath a peepal tree before the river Trivenisangam that Krishna reflects on the four most important relationships in his life — his wives (Rukmini and Satyabhama), beloved (Radha) and friend (Draupadi). Four contrasting personalities but bonded in a magnificent obsession, Krishna.

9. Bachchanalia-The Films and Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan

Published by Osians-Connoisseurs of Art Pvt. Ltd.

Released in the year 2009

Priced at Rs.3500/-

A collector’s item of Bachchan’s 135 films over 40 years with film posters and stories behind the scenes. In his four-decade long career Amitabh Bachchan has been a witness to all the turning points in show business both on and off screen. He symbolizes the evolution of Indian cinema in creativity and technology. His growing stature from an actor to a superstar is evident from his altering body language reflected in the film posters over the decades. He stands testimony to the changing trends in cinema as well as the socio-political scenario in the country. Amitabh Bachchan will always remain the touchstone of the entertainment business.

10. Amitabh Lexicon

Published by Pustak Mahal

Released in the year 2011

Priced at Rs.1000/-

Amitabh Lexicon captures 2,833 head words of the English dictionary into films of the actor spread over 41 years his magnificent career. It is a colourful joyride into Bachchan’s memorabilia.

Forty one years and 174 films (and counting)… Amitabh Bachchan has long since sublimated the language of cinema that is peculiar to Hindi films. He has worked its verbs, overwhelmed its adjectives, brought to life its nouns, subjugated its predicates and predicated its subjects. This does render it easy for a writer to describe his phenomenon but then, makes it equally difficult to, when one seeks to summarize it.

Nearly every word in the English language could find its place in the cinematic vocabulary of Amitabh Bachchan.

Therefore, this attempt, to take you through a Lexicon of his various personas on screen – scenes where he made you cry, laugh, and all shook up. Like he says in his film Namak Halaal “Lo karlo baat…aree English to aisi ave hain ke that I can leave angrez behind… I can talk English, I can walk English, and I can laugh English…”

11. Mother Maiden Mistress

Released in the year

Priced at Rs.199/-

At once a guide, an archive and an interesting study, the book documents and reviews the significant women characters – the mythical, the stereotypical, the rebel, the avant-garde and the contemporary – in Hindi cinema over a period of six decades. It is a chronicle of the journey through different eras and ethos, where seemingly the more things have changed, the more they have remained the same.

Placing the characters in the social milieu of that particular decade, the book gives contemporary readers a nuanced understanding of the subject and the history of the nation and of Hindi cinema. It also connects the characters with the directors of the films and records how these images were also inflected by the costumes fashioned for the lead heroines of the particular era.

Has contributed segments for the following books –

1. Junior g booklets of even Superstars

Published by Chitralekha Group

Released in 1991

A Man Part I and II explored Amitabh Bachchan as a man and as a superstar. For the first time in many years he discussed himself as a son, brother, friend and an actor. His wife Jaya Bachchan analysed him as a boyfriend, husband and a father. He spoke about the influence of his father’s poetry in his life. It was probably the first time he released rare pictures from his family album.

House of Heartbreaks with Sunil Dutt was a story of anguish and trauma. Dutt spoke about his journey from Punjab to Bombay and from films to politics. He spoke about his marriage with Nargis, her untimely demise, their son Sanjay’s drug phase, his marriage and the death of his daughter-in-law. Every time the filmmaker felt he was losing courage there was always a miracle waiting at his door step.

The Winner traced Hema Malini’s phenomenal career as a classical dancer and as Numero Uno star of Hindi films. She spoke about the influence of her parents, her initial awkwardness on the screen, her attraction to Dharmendra and their controversial marriage and their daughters Esha and Aahana Deol.

Once Upon a Time had the elusive star Shashi Kapoor recounting memories of living in Matunga with his parents, his experiences with Prithvi Theatre. His love story with Jennifer Kendall, his innumerable failures at the box-office until Jab Jab Phool Khile broke the jinx and finally launching his own production house.

Echoes of an Era with Rajesh Khanna, Hindi cinema's first superstar was a story of confessions. Khanna spoke about his princely rearing, the peer pressures in college, his whirlwind romance with Dimple Kapadia, his much talked about pairing with Amitabh Bachchan, their rivalry, his final downfall and his foray in to politics.

Seasons told the story of Dev Anand born in Gurdaspur a small town in Punjab. He came to Bombay with a bag full of dreams and over the years the dreams got bigger and more colourful. His first film Hum Ek Hain released in 1946. Sometime in the 50s the Anand brothers ( Chetan, Dev and Vijay) launched Navketan Films. Ever since Dev Anand has been making films and is the only actor to play a hero at 80 plus.

2. Indian Summer

Published by Festival International Locarno

Released in 2002

3. Encyclopaedia Of Hindi Cinema

Published by Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd

Released in 2003-Rs1000/-

Divided into six segments Bhawana Somaaya writes on the Changing Image of Women in Cinema.

This is not “yet another book on Hindi Cinema”, This book presents the dynamics of the hindi film industry with a detailed and analytical point of view. From the turn of the last century when this industry took its first unsteady steps of infancy, to becoming a leader in the world of celluloid, Encyclopaedia Britannica is presenting a perspective.

4. The Iconic Women of Modern India

Published by Penguin Books

Released in 2006-Rs295/-

Freeing the Spirit celebrates some of the most remarkable women of modern India who, defying all odds transcended the role carved out for them to reach unimaginable degrees of accomplishment. Each story is one of individual triumph in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles; of strength, hope and tenacity.

Bhawana Somaaya tells Lata Mangeshkar’s story of phenomenal success and artistic mastery borne out of poverty and hardship.

5. Gujarati compiled Books

i Mara Jeevan no Vanank / Turning Points

ii Maru Sukh / Happiness Is…

iii Lessons of Life

iv Ghar e Swarg / Homes

v Bachchpan / Farewell Childhood

vi Zindagi nu Slogan / Slogan of Life

Published by Image Publications

Released in 2007-Rs300/-

A compilation of insightful essays from prominent personalities on their personal and professional turning points... Edited by poet and littérateur Suresh Dalal

6. Chiken Soup series

i. Father

ii Love Story

iii Mentor

iv Doctor

v Single Soul

7. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan

Published by Sa Re Ga Ma

Released in 2005-Rs500/-

3 compact CD’s of Amitabh Bachchan films packaged with a booklet of his biography.

8. The Man Who Spoke In Pictures- Bimal Roy

Published by Penguin Viking

Released in 2009-Rs499/-

A Centenary Tribute to the great filmmaker edited by his daughter Rinki Bhattacharya and contributed by prominent literary and cinematic luminaries.

Bhawana Somaaya did a chapter on Women in Bimal Roy films.

9. Bollywood’s Top 20 Superstars of Indian Cinema

Published by Penguin Viking

Released in 2012 – Rs599/-

Bhawana pens a chapter on Hema Malini.

Bhawana Somaaya Profile

Columns

Cinema Journal

Year: 1978-79.

Profile: Film weekly from The Free Press Journal was a window to the happenings in show business. Post: Chief Reporter.

Column: Casually Speaking.

Super Year: 1980-81.

Profile: A film glassy published by Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. It was the first of the feature magazine in film journalism. Post: Special Correspondent.

Column: Studio Roundup.

Movie

Year: 1982-88.

Profile: Published by India Book Home. Movie was a feature magazine packaging the lifestyle of movie stars.

Post: Assistant-Editor (1982-85), Co-Editor (1985-88).

Column: Life Scape, Star Diary.

g

Year: 1989-00.

Profile: Published by The Chitralekha Group. ’g’ was the first visual magazine of India to come in an extra ordinary size. It was the first magazine to go on the internet. It was also the first to package a junior booklet with the original magazine.

Post: Editor.

Column: Signature.

Screen Year: 2000-07.

Profile: Published by The Indian Group. Screen is the oldest film weekly and the bible of the film fraternity. Post: Editor.

Column: Signature and Editors Choice.

Newspapers

Sunday Observer

Year: 1990-91.

Column: Private Eye.

Pioneer

Year: 1991-92.

Column: Soul to Soul.

The Hindu

Year: 1992-00.

Column: Bollywood Beat.

Hindustan Times

Year: 1992-93.

Column: Interview.

Newstime

Year: 1992-00.

Column: Interview.

Afternoon Year: 1993-95.

Column: Bollywood Beat.

Janmabhumi

Year: 1994-98.

Column: Salaam Bombay.

Sandesh

Year: 2007.

Column:Salaam Bombay.

Pravasi and Phoolchap

Year: 2008.

Column: Salaam Bombay.

Dear Cinema Year: 2008.

Column: Salaam Cinema.

The Hans India

Year: 2011-

Column: Salaam Bollywood.

Costume Designing

Masoom(1983)

Producer: Devi Dutt.

Director: Shekhar Kapoor.

Costumes: Shabana Azmi.

The character was based on a socialite in Delhi and I chose silks to suit the capital weather. The brief was to present her upper class and cheerful so I dressed her is sarees for formal wear and kaftans at home.

Aaj Ka MLA( 1984) Producer: Kranthi Kumar

Director: Dasari Narayan Rao.

Star:     Shabana Azmi.

The first half of the film is in the village where she is the barber’s wife. I dressed her in simple cotton sarees and printed blouses, hair done in a plait. In the second half, after her husband becomes the chief minister, she wears vibrant chanderi sarees with a big kumkum bindi and her hair tied in a bun. The latter was modelled on Shalini Tai who wore a big bindi all through her political career.

Bhavana( 1984)

Producer: Krishna Films Unit

Director: Praveen Bhatt.

Star:      Shabana Azmi.

She is a simple wife in the first half and a prostitute in the second half. It was a challenge to transform the mother into a seductress but we did it with elaborate costumes, hairdos and outlandish footwear.

Kaamyaab( 1984)

Production: G A Sheshgiri Rao Rao.

Director:    Raghvendra Rao.

Star:          Shabana Azmi.

She is a village girl so she was dressed in mixed and matched ghagra choli. Because it was a South film the fabric of the costumes had to be flattering to the figure particularly in the song sequences.

Tamas (1987)

Production: Govind Nihalani.

Director: Govind Nihalani.

Star:      Deepa Sahi.

Deepa Sahi had just arrived from Delhi and unaccustomed to shooting atmosphere. She played a Punjabi woman and I dressed her in printed cotton salwar suits worn with a mulmul duppatta, long plait worn with a parandi and chappals.

Main Azaad Hoon(1989)

Producer: Habib Nadiadwala

Director: Tinnu Anand.

Star: Shabana Azmi.

Shabana Azmi played an intelligent journalist whose inspiring columns transform opinions. I modelled her dress sense on Shobha De, gave her smart kurtas and jackets with a big leather bag to be thrown over her shoulder.