MUMBAI
For Bollywood, Kashmir has always been beyond the sets. So last fortnight when Rekha and Katrina Kaif were here, they had, perhaps their first, protracted interaction. The two reel life heroines representing two different generations were in Kashmir to shoot for Abhishek Kapoor’s Fitoor.This talk became news in the tinsel town because Katrina is usually seen with male co-stars than females. It seemed the queen of the yore was sharing her experiences with the reigning queen. But Rekha says she knew the youngster closely when she used to visit Salman Khan, living next door. Rekha plays Hazrat, a character that exists in two time zones – 1970s and 2010s. Aditi Rao plays Rekha’s character in the 1970s.
TANGMARG
Results are still not known but the certificates of credibility have started being issued. This time, it is Dr Mustafa Kamal, Chief Minister Omar’s uncle, who is pitted in a trilateral contest in Tangmarg. He has stated that 2014 assembly elections are a watershed in the history of state as Indian agencies neither interfered in the poll process nor did they back any candidate. This, he was quoted saying, “happened for the first time.” So when was the last time, the ‘agencies’ intervened? In 2002, his statement says. But Muftis’ in Gupkar say even 2008 had an intervention!! By the way, somebody seems to have told the doctor that he is winning. All the politicians are getting these pranks, these days!
JAMMU
Comedian cricketer turned BJP politician Navjot Singh Sidhu was a tightly guarded campaigner when he was in Srinagar. He visited some of the most interior belts of the capital city and made speeches, some of them provocative. His idiot-box image helped him get some crowds. But nowhere had he faced any issue. This led his party to talk in high decibels about its performance in militancy infested Vale. But the change in his schedule came in Jammu, the capital of the rightwing politics where he was attacked thrice. Last report suggested that when he was on way to Jammu city, a mob attacked his cavalcade in the periphery Bhor Camp (Gandhinagar). It was a brief, fast spell of stone pelting in which his caravan suffered. His car had its windscreen smashed and Sidhu’s driver Parveen survived with an injury. Police has registered a case and investigations will take its own time. Hence proved, stone pelting can take place anywhere and even screen heroes can have their share.
BASHOLI
Famous for the peculiar painting art, Jammu’s Basholi is getting notorious for lacking a political ideology. This assembly seat is witnessing a contest between individuals who change their political parties like sandals. Congress’s two-time MP and former minister Choudhary Lal Singh resigned and joining BJP that fielded him as its candidate. He is in contest with Jagdish Raj Sapolia who was representing the constituency in the assembly as a BJP man. The two leaders changed the parties after they were denied the mandate. But locals say the two have been doing it always. Sapolia had represented this seat as Congressman in 1987, then joined BJP and represented it again. Now he wants to repeat the same with congress.
KHREW
It went up in flames in the chilly morning at 8:30 am. The nearly 500 year old Jawala Mukhi temple sitting atop a hillock was reduced to ashes and so far nobody has accused anybody. The temple has a garrison operating near it for many decades now. Accessible by 350 chiselled stone stair-steps, this temple could not get fire services to its help because of its location. Interestingly, this temple is dedicated to the goddess of fire. Pandits have been offering prayers at the temple on Savan 14. Immediate inquiry held a short circuit responsible for the mishap.
RAJBAGH
Do not know what Salman Rushdie might have named her if he ever thought to rewrite Shalimar The Clown, BJP poster-woman Hina Bhatt had already got her nick name: Thapad Wali Hina. In politics apparently to avenge NC for ignoring her seriously ailing father, dentist Hina choose BJP for fame and fortune. As the campaigning took off, she also became victim of her party’s propaganda, feeling she might actually win. That was perhaps when she found people voting for others, she lost her cool and slapped presiding officer. It triggered a situation that she had to be rescued by police. People in her locality say it will take some weeks for the lady to stabilize especially after Tuesday, when she will become unprintable.
LEH
A documentary SECMOL: The School for Norphel by University of Kashmir’s EMMRC (Educational Multi Media Research Centre) has bagged a cash prize in second edition of Woodpecker Film Festival and Forum held at India Habitat Centre Delhi from December 11 to 13. The film was adjudged the best in 64 entries. Produced and directed by Dr Shahid Rasool and Shafqat Habib, the film was shot in Ladakh and revolves around a Nobra boy, Norphel, who had failed in tenth standard and then made good after studying at SECMOL. Twist in the story is that the SECMOL founder Sonam Wangchuk has written on Facebook that he was surprised that the award-winning film was shot in his premises and he did not know!
