Udit Narayan Jha is no stranger to awards. He recently received the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian films and he can’t stop grinning from ear-to-ear. “I’ve been in the Indian film industry for close to 40 years now,” says Udit, who’s originally from Nepal. “This industry has been kind to me. It has given me everything and this award is an icing on the cake.” Udit grew up listening to Nepalese and Maithali folk songs. His mother Bhuvneshwari Devi was known for her folk singing and young Udit imbibed that. Slowly, from singing for 25 paise at village fairs, he made a name in the cultural corridors of Nepal. He started singing for the Kathmandu Radio by the time he was a teenager.
He recollects how an official in the Indian consulate was instrumental in him journeying to Mumbai. “I was asked to perform at a cultural evening held at the Indian consulate where this gentleman advised me to learn Indian classical. He said a scholarship could also be arranged if I was interested.” Udit was given an option of either opting to learn in Lucknow, which was closer to Nepal or Baroda. But he had grown up listening to Indian stalwarts like Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar and expressed his desire to go to Mumbai, as these singers were based there. “They tried to talk me out of it, saying Mumbai was expensive and the scholarship wouldn’t suffice. But I was adamant.
Eventually, they relented and I started learning classical music at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan at Girgaum under Pandit Dinkar Kaikini.”
This story is from the August 2016 edition of GLOBAL MOVIE MAGAZINE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2016 edition of GLOBAL MOVIE MAGAZINE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'I Don't Think I've Made It'
'It's taken me very long to get my foot into the door. But the kind of work or central roles that I want are still few.'
'I No Longer Need To Work For Money'
Known for her work in film and television, Parul Gulati seamlessly transitions between her on-screen characters and entrepreneurial ventures. As the driving force behind a thriving hair extensions business, Nish Hair, she has carved out a niche that blends her passion for beauty with astute business acumen.
'I WANTED TO BEAT PEOPLE UP...'
'Suddenly the audience pool feels bigger, like everyone is watching everything now.' 'It's no longer limited in terms of boundaries, like a state or a language.' 'Whether it's a series, a movie or even a Korean film, the audience has access to all of it.' 'Slowly, the boundaries are blurring, so that's great for actors.'
'At Times, Life Has Better Plans For You'
'You have to keep working hard.' 'The universe sees that in you and the higher power puts those opportunities in your way.'
The Best Places to Travel in September
September is the unsung hero of travel months: The busiest vacation season has come and gone, places are less crowded because kids are back in school, and as a result, prices on airfare, accommodations, and even attractions have dropped. It's the perfect time to pay a visit to locations that are usually swarming with tourists and enjoy some serious natural beauty, luxury hotels, outdoor adventures, and more than a few glasses of wine.
'I AM GETTING 1,000 CALLS EVERY DAY'
I am 7 feet and 7 inches tall.'
'We've Already Outlined What To Do In Our Next Films'
\"You can expect bohut kuch. Our dreams are big about the larger plan.'
'I think because India is a bigger country and Bollywood is such a well-oiled machine, the star thing has become so much bigger than the actor thing.'
Film-maker Asim Abbasi has been on the forefront of the Pakistani industry since the success of his 2018 film, Cake. In 2019, Pakistan sent Cake as its official entry for the Best International Film Oscar. Two years later, Abbasi was back with his explosive feminist series Churails, backed by India's Zindagi channel and Producer Shailja Kejriwal.
'I Want TO DO A K-Drama'
'I want to be in Korea doing a love story, full of romance.'
"Mom Was Very Scared Of..."
'When my mom saw my performance in Dhoka, she loved it.' 'She said, \"I don't know why I stopped you for so many years. Ab jaa beta, jee le apni zindagi\".\"
