Rich memoir

This one’s come as a boon for Kannada literature. The first part of playwright-actor Girish Karnad’s autobiography was released in Dharwad last week. Titled Aadaadtha Ayushya (translated as Life Moves On While Playing), the book chronicles Karnad’s life, starting from his childhood to his career as an actor and author. No one is sure how many more parts of the autobiography are to come. But for now, the memoir is being hailed as “the first complete and mature” autobiography in Kannada. Well, given the richness of Karnad’s life and achievements, the autobiography section of Kannada literature looks likely to swell some more.

Class act

Shernaz Patel is basking in the rave reviews for her monologue act in the English play, One on One, which is currently touring the country. But while her career in theatre is going great guns, in Bollywood Patel remains stuck in “supporting” roles. She will be seen next in Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar, and in Reema Kagti’s as yet untitled film. Few, however, know that ’ Maria, a Konkani film set in Goa, in which Patel essayed the lead role, made a record for being the first Konkani movie to run for 100 days. “The pleasures of life come from the unexpected,” quips Patel, echoing her character, the lonely widow Constance, in One on One. How true.

Like father

Here’s one more son ready to take on the mantle of the father. Rohit Dhawan, son and heir of David Dhawan, once the king of Bollywood’s brand of rib-ticklers, will soon make his debut as a director with Desi Boyz. The film is an Akshay Kumar-John Abraham starrer — who were last seen together in the 2005 hit, Garam Masala. Dhawan Junior has dubbed his maiden venture a “dramedy” (a mix of drama and comedy, just in case you didn’t get it!). Having assisted his father in such films as Hook Ya Crook, Dhawan seems all set to make his own mark in Bollywood. So will his “dramedy” be as successful as his father’s plain old comedies? Watch this space.

Mummy’s girl

After Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, et al, it’s now Kareena Kapoor’s turn to wow the small screen. No, Bebo is not anchoring a TV show just yet. She is merely putting in a brief appearance in the Sunday special show of Pavitra Rishta, a serial on Zee TV, to promote her Eid release, Bodyguard. But why did she choose this particular serial? “My mum is a HUUUUGE fan of Pavitra Rishta,” reveals Kapoor. “Though I was initially reluctant to promote Bodyguard on a TV show, it was she who egged me on. Mum doesn’t miss a single episode of the show... So this appearance... it’s all for you, Mamma!” Well, one only hopes the effort will pay off — and Bodyguard will not suffer the same dismal fate as the previous Kareena-Salman starrer, Main aur Mrs Khanna.

Desert notes

If folk music is witnessing a revival today, Divya Bhatia has a lot to do with it. The director of the Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival, which is now in its fifth year, has turned it into one of the best platforms for folk artistes to showcase their music. This time the festival, to be held in mid-October at Mehrangarh Fort, will feature well-known sufi singer Kavita Seth, vocalist Bhanwari Devi of the Bhopa tradition, sarangi player Kader Khan Langa, amongst many other national and international folk performers. “The toughest challenge lies in managing the expectations of our folk artistes. All of them want to perform but we are unable to present them due to limited funds,” says Bhatia about the festival, which is ranked amongst the top 25 international music festivals in the world. So this autumn get set to go folksy in Rajasthan.