Actualités

She had a film named after her even before she hit her career’s peak, was being parodied when she was still active, and is the only Indian film actress who has a song to her played at the Olympics. That was the spell of Madhubala, whose angelic features, beguiling yet enigmatic smile, and incandescent beauty, coupled with her restrained but undeniable talent, made her part of some of Hindi cinema’s most iconic films.

While she is imprinted in the hearts and minds of film-watchers as the winsome, entrancing but star-crossed Anarkali of “Mughal-e-Azam” (1960), as the entrancing nightclub singer in “Howrah Bridge”, and for her exuberant, effusive, and elfin charm in romantic comedies “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi” (1958), “Jhumroo” (1961) and “Half Ticket” (1962), she left her mark across film genres from ghost/gothic stories to comic crime capers to film noir, beyond the usual romantic dramas in a relatively short career.

Veteran actor Manoj Kumar, best remembered for his films Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Do Badan, Upkar, Patthar Ke Sanam, Neel Kamal, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Kranti, was recently admitted to a suburban hospital. This came post the actor complained of pain his gall bladder. Manoj Kumar, who was admitted last week, has since been under treatment at the Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri. It is being said that the actor's health condition has improved and he will be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days.

Veteran Indian actor Waheeda Rehman will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival.

Waheeda Rehman is known for her collaborations with Guru Dutt in films like Pyasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam. Her other prominent films include C.I.D. (1956), Solva Saal (1958), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962), Kohra (1964), Guide (1965), Teesri Kasam, Mujhe Jeene Do (1966), Neel Kamal and Khamoshi (1969).

14th Mumbai Film Festival will be held from 18th to 25th October at the National Centre of Performing Arts (Ncpa) and Inox theatre in south Mumbai.

Indian composer Ravi Shankar Sharma, who had a song featured in Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, has died at the age of 86.

The Bollywood music legend, simply known as Ravi, passed away on Wednesday at a hospital in Mumbai, India after suffering two heart attacks, according to Variety.com.

The composer wrote music for more than 70 films during his career, including Bollywood hits Chaudhvin ka chand, Humraaz, Waqt and Neel kamal.

He hit headlines after the release of Danny Boyle's 2008 drama Slumdog Millionaire because one of his songs from 1957 movie Narsi Bhagat was featured in the film as a question in the gameshow sequence.

However, the track was wrongly accredited to 15th century poet Surdas.