After the child died, the Pauls settled in the British capital and Lord Paul launched several successful business ventures, including Caparo Steel…reports Asian Lite News
Lady Aruna Paul, the wife of Lord Swraj Paul of Marylebone, passed away peacefully at her London house on May 3 night. She was 86. The couple was married for 65 years.
Apart from her husband, she is survived by two sons, Akash and Ambar, and daughter Anjli.
Aruna Paul was born in Kolkata and taught at the Loreto House school in the city before she came to London with her husband for their daughter Ambika’s medical treatment in the late 1960s.
After the child died, the Pauls settled in the British capital and Lord Paul launched several successful business ventures, including Caparo Steel.
Aruna Paul was a popular figure in the social circles of London, for being an articulate and engaging conversationist. She was a friend of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Best known for the screenplays of classic movies like Chamaram, Palangal and Oru Minnaminunginte Nurungu Vettam
Veteran screenwriter John Paul Puthussery, who penned screenplay for around 100 films, many of them evergreen classics in Malayalam, died at a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday.
He was 72 and was under treatment for various diseases for some time. Puthussery had been under critical medical care for the last two months after his condition got worse, news agency PTI reported citing industry sources.
Best known for the screenplays of classic movies like Chamaram, Palangal and Oru Minnaminunginte Nurungu Vettam, all directed by the legendary Bharathan and Balu Mahendra-directed Yatra, Puthussery was a genius who showcased rare skills to write all sorts of movies including action thrillers, dramas, entertainers and even comedy.
He also succeeded in erasing the boundaries of the class and mass movies and penned screenplays for both critically acclaimed movies and commercial entertainers.
Some of John Paul’s best known works include ‘Chamaram’, ‘Yathra’, ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’ and ‘Chamayam’. The gifted writer had also acted in some movies including the Manju Warrier-starrer ‘C/o Saira Banu’ and the Mammootty-starrer ‘Gangster’.
Kunchacko Boban pens emotional tribute
Malayalam actor Kunchacko Boban joined scores of Malayalam film and literature lovers in paying tribute to well-known Malayalam screenwriter John Paul who passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday.
Taking to Instagram, Kunchacko Boban penned a touching tribute to the late screenwriter , who had been keeping unwell for some time.
Lovingly addressing the great writer as his uncle, Boban said the man had given birth to so many soul-touching movies and added that the writer had remained in the hearts of everyone that he had met.
Pointing out that John Paul had an unparalleled command over language and literature, Boban said, “There were so many instances when I could feel the warmth and love that you had for the Udaya family, especially for my Appan.”
Calling Paul “the big man who had a much, much bigger heart for the people around him,” Boban said that people could feel his love even when he was not around them.
“Your voice and words will be sorely missed but your creations will speak volumes for what you have done for the film fraternity and literature!!
“Nedumudi Venu Chettan, Lalitha Chechi and now, John Paul uncle… Recent times have seen big losses for the Malayalam Film fraternity and on a more personal aspect, for me and my family. Hope you all rekindle your friendship in heaven,” he said.
Some of John Paul’s best known works include ‘Chamaram’, ‘Yathra’, ‘Kattathe Kilikkoodu’ and ‘Chamayam’. The gifted writer had also acted in some movies including the Manju Warrier-starrer ‘C/o Saira Banu’ and the Mammootty-starrer ‘Gangster’.
In April last year, the singer had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after testing positive for Covid, reports Asian Lite News
Music composer and singer Bappi Lahiri, who popularised disco music in India in the 80s and 90s, died at Mumbai’s CritiCare Hospital today. He was 69.
“Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight,” Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital said.
Bappi Lahiri delivered popular songs in several films of the late 1970s-80s like ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Disco Dancer’, and ‘Sharaabi’. His last Bollywood song titled Bhankas was for the 2020 film ‘Baaghi 3’.
The singer’s last appearance on the screen was with Salman Khan on reality show Bigg Boss 15, where he was promoting his grandson Swastik’s new song ‘Baccha Party’.
In April last year, the singer had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after testing positive for Covid. He recovered after a few days.
President, PM hail the ‘matchless singer-composer’
“A matchless singer-composer” is how veteran musician Bappi Lahiri was remembered by President Ram Nath Kovind.
President Kovind said: “His songs found popularity not only in India but abroad. His diverse range included youthful as well as soulful melodies. His memorable songs will continue to delight listeners for a long time. Condolences to his family and fans.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed the sentiments of the music maker’s followers when he tweeted: “Shri Bappi Lahiri Ji’s music was all encompassing, beautifully expressing diverse emotions. People across generations could relate to his works. His lively nature will be missed by everyone. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
Veteran singer and music director Bappi Lahiri passed away on Tuesday night at 69 years in a Mumbai hospital.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu tweeted: “In the demise of Shri Bappi Lahiri, India has lost yet another veteran singer and composer. Bappi Da will always be remembered for his foot-tapping numbers. My deepest condolences to his family and followers. Om Shanti!”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: “Pained to learn about the passing away of legendary singer and composer, Bappi Lahiri Ji. His demise leaves a big void in the world of Indian music. Bappi Da will be remembered for his versatile singing and lively nature. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti!”
In the demise of Shri Bappi Lahiri, India has lost yet another veteran singer and composer. Bappi Da will always be remembered for his foot-tapping numbers. My deepest condolences to his family and followers. Om Shanti! pic.twitter.com/qGuMCkfdfB
Expressing his grief, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: “Deeply saddened by the demise of renowned musician Bappi Lahiri. He decorated many songs with his tunes. He had a fine and deep understanding of music. Bappida was always aware of social concerns as well. My condolences to his family and fans in this hour of grief. Peace!”
BJP President J.P. Nadda said: “Deeply saddened by the demise of popular music composer and legendary singer, Bappi Lahiri Ji. He will be remembered for his iconic singing. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”
Celebs mourn Lahiri’s demise
Bollywood celebrities have been mourning the death of India’s ‘Disco King’ Bappi Lahiri since the news broke that he had passed away.
Akshay Kumar tweeted: “Today we lost another gem from the music industry… Bappi Da, your voice was the reason for millions to dance, including me. Thank you for all the happiness you brought through your music. My heartfelt condolences to the family. Om Shanti.”
Today we lost another gem from the music industry… Bappi Da,your voice was the reason for millions to dance, including me. Thank you for all the happiness you brought through your music. My heartfelt condolences to the family. Om Shanti 🙏🏻
Ajay Devgn also took to Twitter to say: “Bappi Da was so endearing in person. But his music had an edge. He introduced a more contemporary style to Hindi film music with ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Suraksha’ and ‘Disco Dancer’. Shanti Dada, you will be missed.”
Vidya Balan, on whom Bappi Lahiri’s popular number ‘Ooh la la’ was picturised in the film ‘Dirty Picture’, posted on her Twitter handle: “I wish you joy wherever you go Bappi da because that’s what you brought to the world through your music and your being. Love always, Bidda (as you’d so endearingly call me).”
I wish you joy wherever you go Bappi da because thats what you brought to the world through your music and your being.
Noted filmmaker Hansal Mehta recalled his personal association with Bappi Lahiri and said: “Another legend gone. Had the good fortune of working closely with him when I shot an ad for P&G and then when I worked with White Feather Films for @_SanjayGupta. Man of incredible melody and talent.”
Music composer Vishal Dadlani, spoke for his generation, when he tweeted: “Bappi Da was more than a legend. He was a friend. He was always kind to Shekhar and me and we shared mutual respect and admiration. Can’t believe he isn’t with us.”
On a personal note, he added: “First my Dad, then Lataji, then Bappi Da. 2022 is really hitting hard. Far too hard. My deepest condolences to Bappa, Rema, Mrs Lahiri and the grandkids.”
Bhumi Pednekar tweeted: “Complete Loss of Words. Heartbroken by the demise of the legendary Bappi Lahiri Ji. Truly a big loss. My condolences to his family and fans. Your music will live on forever, sir #RIPBappiLahiri.”
Complete Loss Of Words. Heartbroken by the demise of The legendary Bappi Lahiri Ji, Truly a big loss. My condolences to his family and fans. Your music will live on forever sir 🙏#RIPBappiLahiripic.twitter.com/UPrJ8utWIl
Popularly known as the ‘Golden Man’ and the ‘King of Disco’ Bappi Lahiri was a music director for 14 Telugu movies, which include some good musical hits of their respective timelines. Super hit songs like ‘Vaana Vaana Velluvaye’, ‘Aakasham Loo Oka Thaara’, are still some of the most liked compositions by the legendary musician.
‘Gang Leader’, ‘Rowdy Alludu’, ‘Nippu Ravva’, ‘State Rowdy’ and ‘Rowdy Inspector’ are some of the many movies for which Bappi Lahiri had composed music.
Bappi Lahiri’s Telugu compositions mostly starred Megastar Chiranjeevi and most of the songs in their combinations were chartbusters at that point in time.
Bappi who had given music for the movies ‘State Rowdy’, ‘Gang Leader’, ‘Rowdy Alludu’, and ‘Big Boss’ featuring Chiranjeevi were musically hit. His other compositions for Mohan Babu and Venkatesh Daggubati were super hits as well. His last Telugu film was the 2020 movie ‘Disco Raja’, an album, originally composed by Thaman, but Bappi Lahiri was brought on board to sing the song ‘Rum Pum Bum’ with Sri Krishna and Ravi Teja, lyrics were penned by Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry.
Veteran singer-music director Bappi Lahiri — who wielded the baton at the age of 17 — passed away here in the early hours of Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News
He was 69 and breathed his last in the Criticare Hospital where he was admitted for certain post-Covid issues.
Born in West Bengal, Lahiri first composed music for a Bengali film ‘Daadu’ and launched his Bollywood career with a film, ‘Nanha Shikari’.
He shot to global fame with his chartbusting music for “Disco Dancer” and the song ‘Jimmy, Jimmy, Aaja, Aaja…”, and later the superhit music for “Zakhmee”, “Lahu Ke Do Rang”.
In his long career spanning over six decades in the Gujarati theatre and ad world, Birhor had worked with The Statesman of Kolkata and the Khaleej Times of Dubai…reports Asian Lite News.
Veteran advertising and theatre personality Burjor Patel, passed away here on Tuesday, his family announced.
Patel was the husband of the late theatre actress Ruby Patel and father of well-known TV actress Shernaz Patel, son mediaperson Marzban, and another daughter Feeroza.
In his long career spanning over six decades in the Gujarati theatre and ad world, Burjor had worked with The Statesman of Kolkata and the Khaleej Times of Dubai.
Leading people from both the industries in India and the UAE have condoled the passing of Patel.
As CDS, General Rawat facilitated indigenisation of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent possible while formulating the overall defence acquisition plan for the three services.
After 43 years in service, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat (63) was tasked with making the Indian military modern and capable of dealing with any emerging security challenges on the Northern or Western borders.
Unfortunately, his life was cut short after a tragic chopper crash on Wednesday in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu killed Rawat, his wife and 11 others onboard the ill-fated helicopter.
General Rawat took charge as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on January 1, 2020. The position was created to integrate the three services — Army, Navy and Air Force. The CDS is mandated to facilitate integration, ensure best economical use of resources allocated to the armed forces and bring uniformity in the procurement procedure.
As CDS, General Rawat was also the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-services matters.
Later, he was also appointed as the head of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs.
On December 17, 2016, the government had appointed him as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff. He took charge on December 31, 2016, after the retirement of General Dalbir Singh Suhag.
He had assured the government that the Army, Navy and Air Force will work as a team and the CDS will ensure integration among the three forces.
He played a key role in ensuring optimum utilisation of allocated budget, ushering more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the services through joint planning and integration.
He facilitated indigenisation of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent possible while formulating the overall defence acquisition plan for the three services.
When he took over as Chief of Defence Staff, General Rawat vowed to work to create more synergy among the three services.
“The CDS is mandated to facilitate integration, ensure best economical use of resources allocated to the armed forces and bring uniformity in the procurement procedure. I want to assure you that the Army, Navy and Air Force will work as a team and the CDS will ensure integration among these,” he had said.
Before being appointed as the CDS, he had served as Indian Army chief for three years.
He was an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and National Defence College. He also attended the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth in the US.
During his distinguished career in the Army, General Rawat commanded an infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, a Rashtriya Rifles Sector, an infantry division in the Kashmir Valley and a Corps in the Northeast.
General Rawat had also commanded a Multinational Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As an Army Commander, he commanded a theatre of operations along the Western Front and was appointed the Vice Chief of the Army Staff before assuming office of Chief of Army Staff.
During the span of 43 years in the Army, General Rawat has been awarded several gallantry and distinguished service awards.
A generation has grown up seeing Vinod Dua, back in 1974, anchoring ‘Yuva Manch’, Doordarshan’s popular programme for young people in the age of black-and-white television…reports Asian Lite News.
The pioneering and anti-establishment television journalist, and a walking encyclopaedia on India’s culinary secrets, Vinod Dua, passed away on Saturday, months after he lost his wife, the well-known radiologist Padmavati ‘Chinna’ Dua, during the peak of the pandemic earlier this year.
Vinod Dua, a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism, was suffering from post-Covid complications and was 67 at the time of his death.
Vinod Dua sir was a huge influence on me growing up. I loved the way he lived, thought, spoke and ate. An anchor from a golden age. Deepest condolences to his family and admirers.
Most recently, Dua was in the news when the Supreme Court invoked its 1962 judgment in the Kedar Nath Singh case to quash the charge of sedition brought against him under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code by a BJP MLA in Himachal Pradesh. Dua had been accused of making comments critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sharing the news of his death on Instagram, Mallika Dua, Vinod and Chinna Dua’s comedienne daughter, wrote: “He lived an inimitable life, rising from the refugee colonies of Delhi to the peak of journalistic excellence for over 42 years, always, always speaking truth to power.”
A generation has grown up seeing Vinod Dua, back in 1974, anchoring ‘Yuva Manch’, Doordarshan’s popular programme for young people in the age of black-and-white television.
This generation remembers the warm, affable and politically outspoken Vinod Dua as the first television personality to make Hindi ‘cool’, long before the late S.P. Singh and Udayan Sharma became the bridges between Lutyens’s Delhi and the Hindi heartland.
Friends remember him for loving food and favourite whisky, and bringing even the stiffest party to life by breaking into a song in the rustic Saraiki dialect. It is spoken at Dera Ismail Khan in present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, which his parents had to leave as refugees.
Echoing the sentiments of the legion of friends of the Duas, Mallika wrote in her tribute: “He is now with our mom, his beloved wife Chinna, in heaven, where they will continue to sing, cook, travel and drive each other up the wall.”
Although Vinod Dua was famous as a Hindi journalist, he studied English Literature at Hans Raj College, Delhi University, and even did a Master’s in it, but he was a natural storyteller and the language that he was most articulate in was Hindi.
After stints with the Sutradhar group at the Shri Ram theatre and outings as a street theatre artiste, Dua became one of the earliest faces of television in India, starting with ‘Yuva Manch’, which he co-anchored with Manoj Raghuvanshi.
Years ago – bringing in a new way of covering election results in India. The team of @PrannoyRoyNDTV and #VinodDua.
What an experience it was, as a young reporter, listening to their analysis in my earpiece and waiting for them to hand over to me for a live interview. pic.twitter.com/KWCN4T7HP7
He was also associated with the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), which laid the foundation for the expansion of television across India, and in 1981, he became the face of ‘Aap Ke Liye’, the Sunday magazine programme for families on Doordarshan.
Dua became a household name when he co-presented, together with the then little-known psephologist Prannoy Roy, the first-of-their-kind election analysis shows on television — Doordarshan yet again — in 1984. Viewers still remember him fondly for making Roy’s “swings” intelligible in plain Hindi with a dash of ready humour.
Thereafter, in 1987, Dua started anchoring ‘Janvani’, a programme that was symbolic of the early glasnost of the Rajiv Gandhi era, where regular people (the ‘aam admi’) got to ask questions of ministers.
From #mallikadua ‘s IG stories.. Heartfelt condolences to Mallika and the family on the tragic passing of #VinodDua sir.. May you have strength, forbearance and patience at this time Mallika. All my love and my deepest condolences. Yours in grief.. 💔 pic.twitter.com/CaKs9obUj8
That was a short-lived programme, but Dua went on to anchor and produce a series of current affairs programmes on different television channels.
The one that made him famous all over again, however, was NDTV India’s ‘Zaika India Ka’, which saw him travelling around the country, discovering street food gems, mithai shops and dhabas, making the owners of some of them nationally famous and rich. Many of these places still carry framed photographs of Dua’s enjoying a good meal with their owners.
In the recent past, Dua was attracting the ire of the ruling dispensation with his 10-minute ‘Jan Gan Man Ki Baat’ podcasts on a popular news website.
He was trolled for lashing out at Bollywood star Akshay Kumar for making lewd comments on Mallika Dua during a shoot of ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’. And he was also accused of sexual harassment by the ‘Gulabi Gang’ director Nishtha Jain in a Facebook post — the charge died a natural death after Vinod Dua defended himself against it.
In the end, Vinod Dua will live in the public memory not only for putting Hindi on the map of Indian television, and for bringing India’s street food riches to the drawing rooms of television viewers, but also for being rooted in the noblest values of good journalism. He will also be remembered as a good man and a dear friend with a warm and welcoming smile.
He is credited for starting the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in the state capital and went on to be its first director, a post he held for numerous years, before retiring…reports Asian Lite News.
One of the tallest figures in the country in cancer treatment, M. Krishnan Nair passed away here on Thursday, family sources said. he was 81.
Nair’s last rites will be held in the state capital, later in the day.
He is credited for starting the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in the state capital and went on to be its first director, a post he held for numerous years, before retiring.
RCC began as a department of the state-run Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and later became an autonomous institution which provided succour to numerous suffering cancer patients in the state and continues the work of Nair.
Nair was awarded the Padma Shri for his services to the nation in cancer treatment and was an advisor to the World Health Organization on the same topic.
Senior figures from across the political spectrum, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, have sent their condolences to Johnson…reports Asian Lite News.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s mother has passed away at the age of 79.
Charlotte Johnson Wahl, a professional painter, passed away “suddenly and peacefully” at a London hospital on Monday, according to The Daily Telegraph.
According to the newspaper, Johnson Wahl was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 40.
Senior figures from across the political spectrum, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, have sent their condolences to Johnson.
Reacting to the death, Sir Keir said: “I’m very sorry to learn of the prime minister’s loss. My condolences to him and his family.”
I’m very sorry to learn of the Prime Minister’s loss. My condolences to him and his family.
Johnson once described his mother as the “supreme authority” in the family and credited her with instilling in him the equal value of every human life, Sky News reported.
Conservative party chairwoman, Amanda Milling, said she was “thinking of Boris Johnson and his family this evening”, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Tory MP, Conor Burns, who is a friend of the prime minister, tweeted: “So sad to hear of the death of Boris Johnson’s mum. Thoughts and prayers are with him and the whole of the Johnson clan.”
Mrs Johnson Wahl, whose father was president of the European Commission for Human Rights in the 1970s, married Stanley Johnson in 1963 before completing her degree at Oxford University as the first married female undergraduate at her college, the BBC reported.
The couple had four children – Boris, journalist Rachel, former minister Jo and environmentalist Leo. They divorced in 1979, it was reported.
Considered to be a hawk among the separatists, he opposed all Track II talks between Delhi and the Kashmiri separatist leadership…reports Asian Lite News.
Veteran Kashmiri separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, known for his hardline views, passed away late on Wednesday in Srinagar city. He was 92.
Geelani passed away at his uptown Hyderpora residence at around 10.30 p.m., family sources said.
He is survived by two sons and four daughters.
Born on September 29, 1929, and having finished his studies at the Oriental College in Lahore, Geelani had, since his youth, been a prominent member of the Jamaat-e-Islami. He had always stood for merger of J&K with Pakistan.
He himself had fought and won assembly polls from north Kashmir’s Sopore constituency in 1972, 1977, and 1987.
Considered to be a hawk among the separatists, he opposed all Track II talks between Delhi and the Kashmiri separatist leadership.
Chairman of the separatist conglomerate, All Party Hurriyat Conference, he split it in 2003 after accusing some of its constituents of fielding dummy candidates in the state Assembly elections that year.
Geelani had also opposed the then Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf’s 4-point formula on Kashmir. In 2008, he founded his own party which he called Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
In house arrest since 2008, he had, in 2016, refused to open doors for the all-party delegation that came from Delhi to meet him. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was the first to condole his demise.
“Saddened by the news of Geelani Sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his belief. May Allah Ta’aala grant him jannat & condolences to his family & well wishers,” Mehbooba said in a Twitter message.
Meanwhile, authorities have imposed restrictions in the Kashmir Valley, including suspension of internet services.
