Malaika mesmerises once again

SHE may have had audiences panting with her chhaiya-chhaiya number opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Dil Se. But that’s not the last you’ve seen Malaika Arora sizzle on the screen.

Now, in a major casting coup, Malaika and her real life husband Arbaaz (brother of Salman Khan ) have come together for Rajshri’s new music video, Pyar Ke Geet sung by Shubha Mudgal. Veteran film director Lawrence D’Souza has shot the lavish videos.

Though this is the couple’s first professional appearance together, their on-screen chemistry has made Pyar Ke Geet an overnight sensation. Thanks largely to Malaika’s stunning looks and her natural acting ability.

Sure, go ahead and listen to the album, but chances are Malaika’s going to mesmerise you with her looks at first glance.

Of cabbages & kings

In the seventies Saeed Mirza was known as the angry young director of Indian cinema. His films Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Ata Hai? and Mohan Joshi Haazir HoI made hard hitting statements about life in urban India.

In the eighties with the spread of commercial television he, along with Kundan Shah and Aziz Mirza produced a string of television serials that celebrated the never-say-die spirit of the marginalised and the underdog. Nukkad, Manoranjan, Intezzar, Umeed and Circus captured the imagination of TV viewers.

Now the turn of the millennium will be witness to a new avtar of Saeed Mirza — a television serial called Raja Ka Baja. It’s a fabled world inhabited by a confused Raja and his conniving court.

The serial is set in a time about 200 years ago and is in the form of folk tales. But these tales are original creations which are of relevance today.

The setting is a tiny kingdom — a virtual outpost of an empire whose capital is Delhi. This is the kingdom of Raja Uday Singh, a good man but an inefficient and gullible ruler.

Through a series of comic confrontations, poignant debates, dramatic events and occasional tragedy, we get a view of our world today, though deftly camouflaged in the garb of folk tales. Don’t miss this tongue -in -cheek social satire on the national network every Wednesday

Crime buster

It’s a theme oft repeated on the big screen. One man vowing to cleanse the corrupt system of all its venality and depravity — a la Charles Bronson in the eighties mega hit Death Wish. Interestingly, every time the theme is woven around a story it hits bull’s -eye.

And so is the case with Hindustani every Monday on DD Metro. A retired police commissioner, Sangram Singh (Puneet Issar), takes on the corrupt system-pledging to stem the rot and mete out justice to crooked government officers and evil politicians. In his do-or-die mission, Sangram Singh is assisted by six young people who are as motivated as he is.

Needless to say the tried and tested storyline is once again a hit. And Hindustani with Puneet Issar playing the retired police commissioner alongwith a star cast of Sonu Walia, the late Vikram Gokhale and Rohini Hattangadi has once again struck an instant rapport with viewers.

Ruthless nature

Nature can be spectacular, breath-taking.... and cruel. And when it is brutal it can wreak havoc. That’s the theme of Savage Skies on the National Geographic channel on September 24.

The setting is a bleak plot of land on the furthest edge of Siberia where a tight cluster of bonfires is burning in the icy air.

In the world’s coldest village — Oimyakon, north of Yakutsk — the winter has claimed the life of an elderly citizen. Before he can be buried, the fires must soften the earth, which is frozen. It will take eight men, working 15-minute shifts for several days to dig his chilly grave.

If these men work any longer in temperatures of minus 70, their fingers, ears, noses to toes will freeze beyond recovery. That’s because unlike his animal neighbours,man has proved physically incapable of adapting to the menace of fierce winter.

Watch this show on the telling effects of weather on man. The same nature which can be witch and fascinate can also ravage and devastate.

Anita makes a comeback

Time sure stands still for some. And one such lady is Anita Raaj, the eighties heroine of films like Prem Geet, Ghulami, Naukar Biwi Ka and Zara Si Zindagi.

Almost a decade after she quit Bollywood. Anita could still be the envy of many leading ladies. Her hour-glass figure and svelte looks have not been laid to waste by her marriage and a child. Which explains why the small screen is laying out the red carpet for her.

Her first serial Aashiqui on Zee every Monday is already making waves. A love story of which Anita says, "The best part of the serial is that I am not shown as a young college girl." She plays the role of carrer woman in love with a successful man, Vijayendra Ghatge — both in their thirties.

That she’s enjoying every bit of her comeback is evident from the fact that Anita has signed another serial — Ladies Only where she plays a nurse who suffers sexual harassment at her workplace.

"I am not doing TV for money or a career. I won’t blindly sign all that’s being offered to me, says Anita. And if producers are smart they will soon realise that this lady means what she says. Those with run-of-the-mill scripts can cool their heels. There’s no coaxing Anita once her mind’s made up.

Hollywood goes wild

Here’s an insight into the wild side of Hollywood. Animal Planet brings to viewers intimate portrayals of Hollywood stars in pursuit of wild animals. In the Wild premieres on Sunday, September 5 through Wednesday, Spetember 8.

The series travels the world to reveal the truths about each actor’s chosen animal andshows the creatures in their natural habitat. The celebrities add colourful commentary and their own perspectives as they experience once-in-a lifetime encounters with the animals.

Sir Anthony Hopkins sets off on a safari in search of the African lion. He explores the mystery and myths surrounding the lion. Robin Williams travels to Hawaii and discovers dolphins not only have the ability to construct sentences, but also possess a strong sense of self-awareness.

Christopher Reeve follows the gray whales on their complete migratory trip — from the Arctic to Mexico, a journey of more than 16,093 kilometres. And Debra Winger goes across China in hope of finding a wild panda. Are these journeys successful? Find out in this fascinating series on Animal Planet.

— Mukesh Khosla