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Tag: Jaspal Bhatti

  • Shemaroo releases Punjabi film ‘Jija ji’ on video

    Shemaroo releases Punjabi film ‘Jija ji’ on video

    MUMBAI: In a first-of-its-kind event for Shemaroo, Punjabi Comedy film Jija ji starring three comedians has been premiered directly on home video.

    The film stars Jaspal Bhatti, Gurpreet Ghuggi (of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge fame) and Jaswinder Bhalla. Other prominent comedians who add their share of fun to this film include Savita Bhatti and Deepak Raja.

    The script with its hilarious situations and the comic angles to relationships make for interesting viewing, adds Shemaroo. The film has been mainly shot at ‘Bhatti’s Joke Factory Studio’, Mohali. Various locations in and around Chandigarh have also been used. The film has been originally shot in Punjabi and is also dubbed in Hindi for the national audience.

    Shemaroo VP Hiren Gada said, “With this release, Shemaroo has reached a new milestone. It is impressive to see how the home video market in India has grown. It is great to see India joining the international league where films are specifically made for the home viewing audience. This film is close to our heart and we hope the audience worldwide, mainly our Punjabi viewers, enjoy this film.”

    Jija ji shows a sensitive relationship in Indian culture. However powerful the position one may hold, one is still inferior to one’s sister’s husband. One may be a dreaded underworld don, a top bureaucrat, or a powerful wrestler, but in front of Jijaji one is the meekest and most docile creature on the earth.

    Jija ji is an out and out comedy film on the nuisance values of a relationship. Jaspal Bhatti plays the leading role of an irritating traditional Indian jija whose brother-in-law on the receiving end is the well- known comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi. Ghuggi, who plays the role of a senior IAS officer, is totally frustrated at the hands of his jija, who is always interfering in his official matters. Ultimately the story takes a turn as Ghuggi takes the help of Bhatti’s jija Jaswinder Bhalla to bring him under control.

  • Jaspal Bhatti joins Sahara’s ‘Karishma’ starcast

    Jaspal Bhatti joins Sahara’s ‘Karishma’ starcast

    MUMBAI: They say “laughter is the best medicine”. Sahara Manoranjan seems to have followed the ‘classic’ prescription when it added popular actor-comedian Jaspal Bhatti to the starcast of its show Karishma – The Miracles of Destiny .

    The show is reportedly struggling in the popularity charts.

    Bhatti will launch his histrionics from the eiposode number 235 onwrds, states an official release.

    The multi-starrer, mega serial features Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan, Arshad Warsi, Sheeba, Jugal Hansraj, Mayuri Kango, Tinnu Anand, Deepshika, Ayub Khan, Vijay razz and Vikas Bhalla among others, adds the release.

    The serial produced by Sheeba Akashdeep & Abu Ali Shroff of Cinetek Telefilms has Bollywood director Akashdeep as its creative director.

  • Shekhar on a roll with ‘Poll Khol’

    Shekhar on a roll with ‘Poll Khol’

    Indian television has recently seen a surge in shows based on political satire. With elections round the corner, apart from bringing hard news, almost all news channels have roped in a ‘funny’ face for a tongue in cheek look at Indian politicians and the games they play.

    NDTV India’s Gustaakhi Maaf, NDTV 24×7’s Double Take, Aaj Tak’s JBC (Javed Broadcasting Corporation) with Jaaved Jaffrey, Zee News’ Khabar Tadka  Chunaav Ki Bhatti Se with comedian Jaspal Bhatti and the latest Star News’ Poll Khol with the king of satire Shekhar Suman. Five shows, one aim – to tickle the viewers’ funny bone with politics as its base.

    Chal mere ghode.. phir se Ayodhaya chal..

    Poll Khol launched on 1 April and the first episode was refreshingly different in the way it kept viewers abreast of the ‘khichdi’ politicians are cooking as polling D Day gets closer. From LK Advani’s rath yatra to Rahul Gandhi’s Amethi agenda, not to mention a thoroughly confused yesteryear’s actor Dharmendra, Suman didn’t spare a soul.

    Chal Dhanoo… Ek minute, par humka jaana kahan hai??

    Poll Khol‘s killer schedule started with a dig at Bihar’s most famous political face Laloo Prasad Yadav and his (till very recently) one-time foe Ram Vilas Paswan. Now the duo have joined hands to fight together for the upcoming elections. Suman threw light on a few hostile moments between them earlier when both had openly ridiculed each other on national television and sworn that they would never support each other in this life. Well, the tables have turned since then and how… Now it seems Laloo is swearing that he will support Paswan not only in this life but also in his next life!

    Suman also brought on a Laloo supporter through a video conference who proclaimed that whatever Laloo and Paswan were doing was for the welfare of the country and its citizens. Ya… don’t we believe you!

    Namaste…ummm.. main… umm.. Soniya Gandhi… umm.. bol… umm … rahi.. hoon

    Next in line to come under Suman’s scrutiny was the new-Gandhi-kid-on-the-block – Rahul, who’s contesting for a seat from Amethi in the upcoming elections. Rahul is very clear about his goals; all he does is know what his target is and follow it… whatever happens after that… ‘dekha jayega’ (we’ll see)! Young man, that’s not an attitude to have when you’re talking about ruling a country. Hasn’t your Madre dear told you?

    Veeru paaji (Dharmendra) was the ultimate treat on Poll Khol. Mr Clueless could well be his second name. Now the story is that Dharmendra has recently followed his ‘Basanti’ (Hema Mailini) into politics and has joined the BJP, but with only one aim in mind… that the party gives him his own district, whether BJP or Congress or for that matter anyone else, is of no concern to him. What an example to set for the youth! And what’s more, Mr Clueless doesn’t even know the weapon that the BJP is pitching against the Congress… that of Sonia Gandhi not being an Indian by birth. When asked what he thought about Sonia being a ‘foreigner’… Dharam paaji was visibly disturbed and went on to say that Indians had no brains and didn’t respect women.. blah.. blah.. blah! Pray… is he for the Congress or the BJP? It’s high time he makes up his mind. Must give credit to Star News’ initiative to show the real agenda behind some stars entering politics.

    Atalji.. kamal se latakna achhi baat nahi hai!

    Suman also took off on the BJP and their Ayodhaya issue. What has been observed that only when the elections are round the corner, is the Ayodhaya issue brought up and promises galore given by the leaders of the BJP. Once the mission is accomplished (i.e. elections won) the Ayodhaya issue is sent for a ‘vanvaas’ (exile) till the next elections. Suman had a t?te-?-t?te with BJP’s spokesperson MA Naqvi on the sets of Poll Khol and questioned him about this. Naqvi was obviously quick to defend himself and Atalji’s motives and said that no issue was forgotten by the party. Well, the usual PR stuff but Suman didn’t miss a chance to take a dig at the inseparable duo – Vajpayee and Advani.

    Poll Khol has a cool set with different caricatures of politicians projected on a screen behind. Also at intervals some clips are projected which highlight the hypocrisy of Indian politicians.

    Suman rounds off the show with questions from viewers from around the country. One viewer from Delhi asked what would happen if Advani’s rath yatra and Sonia’s rally ever came face to face? Suman at his satirical best said that no doubt both of them would bad mouth each other behind their backs but if they were to come face to face, they would like diplomats come forward and greet each other, shake hands and exchange pleasantries. Another viewer asked Suman when would he be joining politics? For now, that’s the furthest on Suman’s mind as he enjoys taking digs at everyone and anyone… imagine him being on the receiving end!! Absolute no, no!

    Star News seems to have got a winner on its hands with Poll Khol and no matter how many talk shows Shekhar Suman hosts… he’s at his innovative best in this one and only seems to get better with time!
  • And now a ‘Feel Good Party’!

    And now a ‘Feel Good Party’!

    NEW DELHI: Popular satirist Jaspal Bhatti Wednesday floated a new political outfit – the “Feel Good Party” – and promptly went on to mock at the country’s political tribe.
     
    And in keeping with the times, he said his party was ready to form an alliance with any other party, ideology be damned, and said the symbol of the party would be a “smiling cat” and “a smiling dog”.

    “I was compelled to float such a party because the feel good atmosphere promoted by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is so powerful and so impressive,” Bhatti told IANS, tongue firmly in cheek.

    “Its only agenda is to generate a feel-good feeling and keep that sensation going, no matter how bad people may be feeling.

    “If we are voted, we promise to spend public money on promos and advertisements to keep up a constant feel good feeling.”

    Bhatti, 48, an electrical engineer, has used his simple, yet hard-hitting comic style both in television serials, on stage and on the streets to get his message across and see that it hits home.

    The feel good party would field candidates in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, and “wherever the response is good”.

    It is a “spoof” on political parties, and Bhatti has lampooned virtually every major political outfit of the country.

    The party would have “no ideology”, he insisted, so that it would be that much easier to ally with just about anybody.

    “We are open to an alliance with BJP or Congress, or even both,” he said straight-facedly.

    And its prime ministerial candidate will only belong to the Bhatti family – a tribute to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty dominating the Congress party.

    “Though our prime ministerial candidate will be a Bhatti, we will not announce any candidate until after the elections, so that there is no friction in the party.”

    The entertainer continued: “First cousins will not be allowed – although grandchildren and even great grandchildren can join.”

    The symbol of the party would be “a smiling cat” and “a smiling dog”.

    Indecision?

    “We have kept both symbols so that even if our party splits and we lose one symbol, the other will remain with us!”

    The animals are, of course, grinning widely. “It is the feel-good factor,” reminds Bhatti.