Tag Archives: entertainment

Actor Aindrila Sharma bids adieu, lost battle with life after defeating twice

Popular Bengali television actress Aindrila Sharma who fought a difficult battle with life and defeated death twice earlier had to give up her battle this time after fighting for twenty-days in hospital where she was admitted following brain stroke. She survived cancer twice and returned to the screen in 2015. She died on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday, the actress had multiple cardiac arrests. She was 24 and survived by her parents.

She was admitted to a private hospital in Howrah on November 1, 2022 after a brain stroke, and the CT scan of her brain showed a massive haemorrhage on the left side. She suffered from Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue around the bones. She was treated with surgery and chemoradiation. Aindrila, underwent critical surgery, and a biopsy showed that she was having brain metastases. She was treated by a team of neurosurgeon, neurologist, critical care specialist, infectious disease specialist, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist.

A native of Murshidabad district, Aindrila Sharma, was a well-known face on Bengali television, appearing in serials such as ‘Jiyon Kathi’, ‘Jhumur’ and ‘Jiban Jyoti’. Aindrila Sharma recently featured in the Zee Bangla Cinema original film ‘Bhole Baba Par Karega’ and was seen in the role of Anirban Chakraborti’s daughter. She recently appeared in a web series, ‘Bhagar’, in which she was seen opposite her real-life partner Sabyasachi Chowdhury., the man who stood beside her like rock during her struggle with life.

Entire Tollywood industry has mourned her death. Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms are abuzz with messages like “Rest In Peace, well fought”.

Goodbye! Tabassum, today’s TV anchors have lot to learn from her

Tabassum, rather ‘Baby Tabassum’ to be precise is no more. She was 78. Death came in Mumbai on Saturday late evening. She began her film career as Baby Tabassum in 1947 with ‘Nargis’, ‘Mera Suhag’, and ‘majhdhar’. As a child artiste, she acted in movies such as Jogan (1950), Deedar (1951) and Baiju Bawra (1952). Later on, she featured in films such as Talash (1969), Heer Raanjha (1970), Johny Mera Naam (1970), and Tere Mere Sapne (1971).

Tabassum was better known as ‘Baby Tabassum’ as she played childhood roles in numerous films and attracted the attention of people.

Many (especially the new generation) may not be familiar with her name but those who are a generation older and before would immediately recall her as the bubbly young lady who took interviews of celebrity from the entertainment industry predominantly Hindi filmdom. Her interview with pop sensation also called queen of pop, Nazia Hassan was massive hit as she knew how to open up the shy Nazia who had by then created history in India with her popular numbers like ‘aap jaise koi’ from film Qurbani and album ‘Disco Diwanee’ (with brother Zoheb Hassan).

Young generation or GenNext may be going gaga over talk-shows by actor Simi Garewal and filmmaker Karan Johar, but Tabassum much before them created a niche for herself. She had an unique style of asking questions.

Draped in a sari with a flower tucked in her hair, the ever-smiling actor presented her lively and endearing interactions with film personalities on Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan programme on Doordarshan from 1972 to 1993.

Tabassum died at a hospital on Friday evening.

Remembering Jagjit Singh, voice that simply mesmerize

Tributes to Jagjit Singh on his 11th death anniversary. The man who not only gave us beautiful ghazals one after one but also brought a freshness into ghazal singing. Ask any Ghazal lovers, and they would say his way of presenting a Ghazal was completely different from his predecessors including father of Ghazal as he is known, Mehedi Hasan Khan Sahib. They all were great singers, but Jagjit Singh snatched the popularity simply because he presented the songs in a modern way and not the cult classical format.

Popularly known as ‘Ghazal King’, Jagjit Singh had a drawing room voice that made him more popular among his listeners. Not just private albums, but he also did numerous stage shows in India and abroad.

Jagjit Singh was a diversified singer. He sang bhajans, regional songs apart from his cult ghazals. He made is debut wil Aarohi, a musical programme on Doordarshan in late 80s. He sang, ‘hum to hain pardes mein, des mein nikla hoga chand …’

Jagjit Singh was full of warmth. I had an opportunity to meet him once at the Taj Palace hotel in New Delhi. It was a few years before his death. We discussed many issues including his wife Chitra Singh’s revival of her singing career after decades. Chitra Singh, was also a wonderful singer but had left singing in her prime career after their son Vivek’s sudden demise in a road accident. Some of her duets with Jagjit Singh and solo songs became huge popular. During my long conversation with the Ghazal maestro, he said “Chitra would be soon making a comeback”. Unfortunately, that was not to happen, barely two to three years after this meeting, Jagjit Singh passed away. A few years later, Chitra also breathed her last.

During our conversation, I had asked him does he belive in the philosophy of ‘happiness’ in his songs – ‘tum itna jo muskura rahi ho…’ or ‘hoton se chulo tum, Mera geet amar kar do…’ Jagjit Singh, smiled and said, Chitra has been an inspiration behind his songs. The Bengalies must be aware that he had recorded a Bengali album during a Puja. I asked him was it also an inspiration from Chitra Singh who was originally a Bengali. The Ghazal maestro smiled. I have met many celebrities but few have left a mark because of their behaviour and warmth. Jagjit Singh is one of them.

Stand-up comedian Raju Srivastava loses battle, dies at AIIMS

Noted stand-up comedian Raju Srivastava is no more. An era has ended in the stand-up comedy as it was Raju Srivastava who plays a big role in making the stand-up comedy popular. He was 58.

Srivastava was admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he suffered a sudden heart attack on August 10 this year. The actor was immediately shifted to intensive care unit (ICU) and was on life support. His condition was said to improving a few days back. However, he was kept on life support. 

There was a ray of hope, after both the family and the attending medical staff at the AIIMS, informed Srivastava regaining consciousness a few days back but the inevitable happened. The man who is believed to have given a new perspective to the stand-up comedy with his numerous flicks including ‘Gajodhar Bhaiya’ was declared dead a hours back. 

Social media has been abuzz with condolences pouring in since the news was flashed. His list of admirers is huge from eminent people to common person. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had telephoned Raju Srivastava’s wife Shikha to enquire about his health and offered support. 

He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.

Raju Srivastava back from brain dead condition

Stand-up comedian, actor Raju Srivastava who was declared brain dead has come back to consciousness after 15-days. His personal secretary Garvit Narang. informed on Thursday.

Srivastava, was admitted to the hospital after he suffered a massive cardiac arrest while excising. He was immediately admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. His condition started deteriorating and last week doctors announced his going into a brain dead situation.

Some had even spread the rumour of his death. His wife Shikha and daughter Antara had requested all not to indulge in such false news as it demoralizes the family members who are fighting a battle of long waiting in the hope that Raju Srivastava will become well.