Wednesday, 14 December 2011

I am desperate to read a book: Shahrukh Khan


Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is an avid reader, but amid the promotions of his last release, `RA.One` and upcoming film `Don 2: The King Is Back`, he is missing the joy of catching up on books.

"Desperately seeking a good book to read. Kindle dried up...bookstores out of bounds...heading to Nagpur would have been nice if I had a book," Shah Rukh posted on Twitter.

The actor and his `Don 2` team are beginning their multi-city promotion tour for the film with Nagpur. He also recieved many suggestions for latest books, and asked his Nagpur fans to give him books during his stay.

"Thanks guys and girls keep the suggestions coming...need to immerse myself in books. Been a long time since I spent some time with myself. Enroute to Nagpur...the tour begins for the chase continues film. I really love meeting you all in the garb of film promotions. DON is ON...

"So if you are in Nagpur and have the time I would love it if you get me books...remember to write ur Twitter handle please on the book," added Shah Rukh.

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

'Supermodel' Tyra Banks turns bestselling author with 'Modelland'


Tyra Banks’ debut fiction book, Modelland, has reached number two on the New York Times bestsellers list and number one on the Barnes & Noble charts.

The achievement certainly marks the advent of a journey from being a super model to a super author for Banks.

In a candid interview with New York Daily News, Banks revealed that books are “a work of fiction that honours my love of books and fantasy, and also lets me poke fun at things I’ve seen in the real world… many of the characters will be inspired by some of the models I’ve known, both nice and ``ice’,” the Telegraph reported.

Rumours circulated last week that Tyra`s debut book was to be turned into a film.
Of the rumours of film adaptation the model-turned-author said that she “would love to open up the Modelland casting to the world. I’m looking for an ``everygirl`` to possibly play one of the characters in the story.”

Monday, 12 December 2011

Showcase: The making of an artist


                                                                                                                                By : Swati Daftuar
He is one of India’s best known cartoonists and social chroniclers. And now comes a book that shows us how he got there. The Life of Mario: 1951, published by Architecture Autonomous, is a graphic diary of images and cartoons from Mario Miranda’s life. More than 50 years old, it is a collection of his rib-tickling, tongue-in-cheek art work edited by Gerard Da Cunha. The year 1951 marked a turning point in Mario’s artistic development and in Goa’s own history.
In 1951, Mario De Miranda had just finished university in Mumbai and was on a sabbatical. Born in 1926 in the Portuguese enclave of Daman, Mario belonged to a Goan Roman Catholic family of Saraswat Brahmin origin. His father was the Administrator of Daman and his family a part of the local aristocracy. Consequently, Mario managed to imbibe the best of both Portuguese as well as Goan cultures. This multi-cultural understanding and empathy is clearly manifested in his work.
It is impossible to have read newspapers and magazines in India and not come across examples of Mario’s works. His influences are everywhere, in books, poetry and social commentary. But this book provides us with a peek into his personal life. Included in this volume are scenes from his daily life, which he was in the habit of drawing.
There are gossiping aunties, solemn priests, dances and birthday parties, favourite bars that allowed credit; everything from those years of Mario’s life that would later chart out the path towards his career. These images also show the cartoonist’s trademark style taking shape; the exaggerated line of the bosom and the rosy noses, the strut and bug eyes that would later become his signature style. Flipping through the pages of Mario’s life, you see the artist evolve and find himself within his own work.
All of 25 and free spirited, Mario’s sabbatical in Goa was filled with old friends and cousins out to have fun. They organised clandestine parties and picnics, visited their favourite haunts and hardly had a dull moment. Mario recreates this world, introducing us to hoards of charming and lovable characters.
A keen observer of village politics and human nature, he transforms this book, with his notes, dialogues and vignettes that pepper the images, from a simple chronicle of his life to a richly humorous social satire.
Many have wondered how Mario, with no formal training in art, could draw so spontaneously. Manohar Malgaonkar, whose book Goa was illustrated by Mario, seemed to have hit upon the answer when he said that Mario ‘did not become a cartoonist. He was born a cartoonist.’
(Courtesy : The Hindu)