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Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
A photography exhibition puts the spotlight on the oldest Buddhist site in Jammu & Kashmir
Artefacts yielded from an excavation of Ambaran between 1999 and 2000, an archaeological site in Jammu's Akhnoor, form the subject of an ongoing photography exhibition at Delhi's National Museum. Titled 'Ambaran: The Historic Buddhist Citadel of J&K' the show by journalist and photographer Vijay Kranti features images of terracotta heads, pottery, coral jewellery and silver coins. Situated on the bank of Chenab, the site is located at the entry point of Akhnoor, about 30 km north of Jammu. Kranti notes that the Buddhist site, most probably a monastery, remained active for about 900 years between the 2nd century BC and 7th century AD, a period belonging to the Pre-Kushan, Kushan and Post-Kushan Gupta periods. One of the photographs show a circular stone and brick base which helped archaeologists conclude the existence of a spoked wheel stupa. 'It was the most distinguishing proof,' the exhibition notes, adding, 'This circular base of eight-metre diameter, presents eight spokes, distributed in typical geographic Buddhist style, is supported on the outside by a 1.20 metre thick wall of baked bricks.' A version of the exhibition was showcased in 2011, first in Delhi and then in Jammu, after Kranti was invited by the late Congress politician from the state, Madan Lal Sharma, to photograph the findings in order to put Akhnoor on the map. 'As a photographer, I have always been interested in the Buddhist way of life, as a result of which I had extensively photographed Tibet and its people. When I was invited to photograph Ambaran, I was more than happy to take it up,' says Kranti adding, 'When I reached there, I realised that the artefacts lay scattered across different locations in Jammu.' While some were displayed in the small one-room Site Museum at Ambaran, some were at the Dogra Art Museum in Raja Mandi and others at the local ASI office in Gandhinagar. 'In the end, I had a good collection of artefacts to be photographed,' says Kranti. While the pottery items – basins, bowls, spouts, lids, lamps, storage jars – point towards a noteworthy terracotta workmanship, figure moulds show the skills of the artisans in carving statues and reproducing them in large number. If gold caskets evidence the burying of precious things along with bodies, iron nails establish the knowledge of metallurgy during this period. Besides photographs, the exhibition also features images of scenic locations from present-day Akhnoor, including the Gurdwara Shri Tapo Asthan, Jia Pota Ghat and the Akhnoor Fort. 'I believe Jammu has been left out of the tourist circle. I wanted to show people that there are equally beautiful, if not better, places there as well,' says Kranti. The exhibition closes on May 31.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
MP's Kranti, Shuchi earn India call-up for Eng tour
1 2 3 Indore: Madhya Pradesh's rising cricket stars Kranti Goud and Shuchi Upadhyay have been named in the Indian women's squad for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against England, scheduled from June 28 to July 22. The selection marks Shuchi's second national call-up and a continued run for Kranti, who recently made her international debut. Kranti Goud, 22, hails from Ghaurha village in Chhatarpur district. A promising pacer, she was a net bowler during the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 and is among the key picks for WPL 2025. Known for her consistent performances across various age categories for the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), Kranti made her international debut against Sri Lanka earlier this month, stepping in for the injured Kashvee Gautam. Speaking to TOI, Kranti expressed her excitement about the England tour. "It was a proud moment to represent India against Sri Lanka. Being selected again for the England tour is an honour. I'm focused on giving my best and making the most of the opportunity. The support from my teammates, coaches, and the MPCA has been incredible," she said. Kranti's cricket journey began in 2016 when she started playing with boys in her village. Initially helping them retrieve balls, she was soon invited to join their team in tennis ball matches. Her breakthrough came when she filled in for an injured player in a leather ball game, which led to her selection for district trials and eventually the state team. Joining her in the Indian squad is 19-year-old Shuchi Upadhyay from Mandla, who has received her second national call-up after being part of the squad for the Sri Lanka series. Although she didn't get a chance to debut, Shuchi is determined to make her mark in the England tour. "It was a great experience being with the Indian team for the first time. I learnt a lot from the seniors. My aim now is to stay consistent and confident for the England tour," said Shuchi. Shuchi's journey started on the dusty pitches of Ramleela Maidan in Navghat, Mandla, where she played gully cricket with boys due to the absence of facilities for girls. She later received formal training at Mekal Cricket Academy and soon emerged as a standout spinner, even participating in men's tournaments. The MPCA shared the news of their selection on its official social media platforms, congratulating both players. MPCA Joint Secretary Siddyani Patni told TOI, "This achievement is a reflection of the hard work and top-tier training sessions we've been conducting for both women's and men's teams together. MP's women cricketers have been among the best in the country for the past three years, and national selectors have begun to take notice. With continued performance, these girls have the potential to achieve great heights."
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Blood on set, bond for life: Hema Malini recalls Parveen Babi's painful first day on sets of this 1981 blockbuster
Veteran actress Hema Malini recently looked back on her time working with the late and iconic star Parveen Babi , with whom she shared screen space in several films. One of their most notable collaborations was the 1981 action-packed historical epic Kranti, where they acted alongside film greats like Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, and Shashi Kapoor. In a candid chat, Hema recounted a memorable moment from the very first day on set—a sword-fighting scene that went unexpectedly wrong and left Parveen with a minor injury. In an interview with HT City, Hema recalled, 'Parveen Babi was part of the cast in Kranti. On day one, we had to shoot a scene that involved a choreographed sword fight. She was a lovely, gentle person. However, the action director kept pushing us to perform the scene more intensely. During the take, she accidentally got hurt—she suffered a small cut on her hand. I was absolutely shocked and shaken by what happened.' Hema went on to explain that even though the sword wasn't real, its edges were sharp enough to cause harm, especially to someone as delicate as Parveen. 'It wasn't a real weapon, just something with pointed sides. Parveen was a sensitive, fragile person. When she got injured, I was extremely anxious. I felt so guilty that everyone on set started comforting me instead. That incident was the beginning of our strong friendship,' she added, smiling at the memory. The legendary actress also touched upon the belief that surrounded such accidents in those days. According to her, the atmosphere on set quickly changed after the incident—because there was a popular superstition that if someone shed blood on the first day of shooting, it meant the movie would become a huge success. 'They used to say, 'If someone bleeds, it's a sign the film will become a hit.' Of course, I didn't do it intentionally—it just happened by chance. But it became one of those unforgettable moments. With over 200 films in my career, each one brings back a flood of memories. The songs, the people, the stories—they're all special,' Hema said, reflecting warmly. As history would have it, Kranti, which also featured major stars such as Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha along with Hema Malini and Parveen Babi, went on to become a massive blockbuster. It didn't just succeed; it turned out to be the biggest box office triumph of 1981 and emerged as one of the highest-grossing films of the decade, solidifying its place in Indian cinema history.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Hema Malini opened up on bonding with Parveen Babi after her Kranti set accident: 'She was a very delicate girl'
recently recalled a memorable incident from the sets of the 1981 action drama Kranti, where she starred alongside , , , and . On the very first day of shooting, during a sword-fighting scene, Hema accidentally injured Parveen's hand. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She remembered it bleeding and noted that, back then, such an incident was seen as a sign of the film becoming a superhit. The Sword-Fight That Sparked a Friendship During a conversation with HT City, Hema Malini recalled the first day of shooting Kranti, where she had a sword-fighting scene with Parveen Babi. She described Parveen as a kind and gentle person, and explained that the fight master had encouraged them to perform more aggressively for the shot. Unfortunately, in the process, Parveen ended up with a cut on her finger. Hema said she felt terrible about the incident and was quite shaken at the time. Parveen's Delicacy and Hema's Concern Hema Malini went on to share that although the sword used wasn't real, it had a sharp edge, and Parveen Babi—being quite delicate—got hurt. She recalled feeling extremely anxious after the incident, to the point where the crew had to calm her down. That moment, she said, marked the beginning of a close friendship between her and Parveen. A Popular Superstition on Film Sets The veteran actor also mentioned that following the incident, there was a common superstition on film sets that if someone bled during a shoot, the film would turn out to be a hit. She clarified that the injury wasn't intentional—it just happened in the moment. Reflecting on her career, Hema Malini said that with nearly 200 films to her credit, each filled with beautiful songs, she has countless such memories and stories to share.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
When Hema Malini injured Kranti co-star Parveen Babi, says ‘she was a delicate girl': ‘Everyone said khoon baha hai, film hit hogi'
Veteran actor Hema Malini has worked with late legendary actor Parveen Babi in several films, including their 1981 action drama Kranti, alongside Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, and Shashi Kapoor. In a recent interview, Hema recalled an incident from the first day of the film's shoot, when she accidentally injured Parveen during a sword scene. The actor revealed that her hand started bleeding, and it means that the movie will be a superhit, a superstition during that era. During a conversation with HT City, she shared, 'In Kranti, Parveen Babi was there. It was the first day of shooting. I had a scene with her in which we were fighting in a sequence with swords. She was a very nice, sweet girl. But, the fight master keeps inspiring because they want a more aggresive act. When she did it, uske haath mein laga (she got hurt). She got a cut on her finger, I felt so bad. Itna darr gayi thi main ki pata nahi kya hogaya (I got so scared).' Hema Malini further added that while it wasn't a real sword, Parveen Babi was rather a fragile girl. 'It was just a sharp edge. She is a very delicate girl. Usko laga toh main pareshaan hogayi, sab mujhe sambhaalne lage (I got so worried that everyone started paying attention to me). That's why Parveen and me became very good friends,' she said. ALSO READ | Weeks after endorsing Sunny Deol's Jaat, Hema Malini criticises 'violent' Hindi films: 'Everyone has a sword in their hand' The veteran actor also revealed that after the incident, everyone on the sets assumed that Kranti would be a hit at the box office. 'Khoon baha, khoon behgaya toh picture hit hai, aisa bolte the vahan (there was a superstition that if someone bleeds, the film would be a hit). I didn't do it purposely, it just happened! These were all small incidents that I remember now. Nearly 200 films I have acted, each film has had such beautiful songs, if you talk to me, there are so many stories to tell,' she concluded. For the unknown, their film Kranti was a huge hit and also emerged as the biggest hit of the year and that decade.
