Spin doctor

One of these days spin-meister Bishan Singh Bedi will write his memoirs. Until that happens fans of the former India captain and cricketing legend can pore over his biography, Bishan: Portrait of a Cricketer which hit the shelves on Thursday. Written by sports writer Suresh Menon, the book was launched by Bedi himself. “This biography just happened. I was planning to write an autobiography, but I probably lacked the acumen to write one and Menon in the meanwhile planned this biography,” says the former cricketer who was famous for a bowling action that, aficionados said, was nothing short of poetry. Bedi clarifies that an autobiography is still on the cards. “I hope to write an autobiography some day,” he says. Will it be out in a year or two? “Inshallah,” says Bedi. Oh, let it be, say we.

In memoriam

The legacy of Shyamanand Jalan, who passed away in May last year, is alive and well among theatre lovers in Calcutta. A special award, the National Youth Theatre Award 2012, has been instituted in his memory. Known for theatre productions like Ashad Ka Ek Din (1960) and Adhe Udhare (1970) and his roles in films like Shyam Benegal’s Arohan and Roland Joffe’s City of Joy, Jalan will be remembered through the annual award which will be given to playwrights to begin with. The panel of judges includes Shanta Gokhale, the Mumbai-based novelist and playwright, and Yama Shroff, veteran theatre actress. A fitting tribute to a many-faceted personality who took such joy in good theatre.

Jailhouse rocked

There’s more drama in store for Kannada actor Darshan, who was arrested and put in the slammer for assaulting and threatening to kill his wife two weeks ago. This act, however, is set in the jail where the actor is cooling his heels. The inmates of Bangalore’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison stage a play every year. This year, they picked a mythological tale and they want Darshan to play its central figure. Although undertrials don’t get to participate in this annual event, jail authorities have decided to bend the rules for Darshan. Looks like being a celebrity can bring concessions of all sorts.

Cool kids

Lesser stars are usually in awe of Big B. But this time round, it was Big B who was completely in awe of his co-stars. Posting his experience of working with some kids for an ad film on Twitter, Amitabh Bachchan said, “Shooting with a bunch of the most fiery, well-spoken, know-it-all kids... incredible conversations with them... it’s an education! It’s the toughest job to shoot with kids... and also animals. You never know what they will do next.” One child impressed him particularly. Apparently, the little fellow used the breaks between the shoot to do his own marketing for the film. Hey, maybe these savvy kids could give some of our veteran stars a tip or two to hitch up their flagging careers!

 

Judge grudge

Anu Malik wants to go single. No, we don’t mean what you think we mean. Malik, who is ubiquitous as a judge on television reality shows, has a long and fractious history of quarrels with fellow judges on the panel. But this time the music composer has put his foot down and said that if he has to judge a show, he wouldn’t share the honours with anyone else. He said as much to Zee TV when it approached him to judge its reality show Star Ya Rockstar. “I am done with the constant differences of opinion and ego tussles that transpire between the judges of a reality show. Music resides in every pore of my body and I prefer to have the final say on what’s a great performance and what’s not!” he said. However, the channel and production house are still pressing for a second judge. Will Malik budge? Watch this space.