Posts tagged NSD

A Rendezvous with Ammaji of Peepli Live

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

MM.com speaks to Natha’s mother, Farrukh ‘Ammaji’ Jaffer, only to bring out the intellectual and lighter side of a lady from the rustic lands of Uttar Pradesh

Kathika Kandpal (MUMBAI MIRROR.COM; September 28, 2010) Farrukh Jaffer, a far cry from Ammaji of Peepli Live

“I am too busy and too free, depending on my priorities. But if there is someone to listen to me, I can talk 24 hours. Jaise ham abhi aapse baat kar rahe hain,” 72-year-old Farrukh Jaffer bursts out laughing. “Ammaji” is bound to slip out of your mouth when you are talking to her. One of the most memorable characters of Peepli Live, Ammaji, is what she is better known as now.

A graduate and a student of National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, Farrukh started her career in All India Radio as an announcer in Lucknow. At NSD, she learnt a lot from one of the most influential theatre directors Ebrahim Alkazi. She performed in a few of his plays and thoroughly loved the experience. But somehow, she felt closer to radio and films. It was Muzzaffar Ali, director of Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan, who gave her her big break in the film where she played Rekha’s mother. Farrukh, who has her base in Lucknow for years now, feels deep gratitude towards Muzzaffar Ali, “I am thankful to Muzzaffar saab from the bottom of my heart. He gave me my first break. And it was his serial Damyanti where Ashutosh Gowariker spotted me and offered me Swades. He always gave me the freedom an artiste like me craves More >

Check out: Pradhuman Singh sans his ‘Laden’ make up

1
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Subhash K. Jha, July 26, 2010 – 12:41 IST

With the unexpected success of the political satire Tere Bin Laden, plans are afoot to create an ongoing series of films featuring the Laden look-alike played by Pradhuman Singh.

The success of the desi Laden has taken the film’s makers by surprise. Director Abhishek Sharma admits creating a franchise out of the Laden character is an idea being serious explored specially since the humour on Laden has been taken in the right spirit.

Singh who has been in-character playing Laden even off -screen is a bit more cautious in his enthusiasm to reprise the role. “It would depend entirely on the writing. Abhishek Sharma who’s almost like a childhood buddy-I know him since I was 17- worked hard to bring the idea of a poor Laden look-alike who creates a global stir, come alive. Now to carry the idea forward without seeming to simply cash in on a successful formula, we need a script that is as funny if not funnier.”

Pradhuman who acted at the age of 20 when he was in the National School Of Drama gave up acting entirely and has now returned to acting with a role he never though he could pull off. “When Abhishek suggested I play a character that’s mistaken for Laden, I was zapped. I had never even remotely thought I resembled Laden. But now that the character has been liked I don’t mind playing him again.”

Another Laden in-blunder land saga is on the anvil. And this character may become Hindi cinema’s first formal farcical More >

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