*~Singh is Queen!~* Mona Singh (Jassi) FC - Page 3

Tune into the idiot box or hit the nearest cinema hall, and it's the season to celebrate the country's myriad regional flavours.

While television seems to be regaling in serials based on regional fervour like Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Gujarati) and Waqt Batayega Kon Apna Kon Paraya (Bengali), feature films like Singh Is Kinng are relishing the culture curry.

Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta says, "Each region and religion has its own flavour to offer, I find it a fantastic thing to enjoy and educate myself about diverse cultures through the entertainment medium. India being a country where unity exists in diversity, it's good to have such variety together."

Mona Singh, aka Jassi of Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi quips, "The trend of adding a regional flavour was kicked off by television first and Bollywood has gradually imbibed this trend. It's through an exposure to these different cultures that people have starting using names like Papu, Biloo, Rano and Jassi. The wide regional essence is the best way to reach out to our masses."

Following the telly trend, some popular filmi hits which cast an impact on the big screen include films like Singh is King (Punjabi), Mission Kashmir (Kashmiris), Devdas (Bengali), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (Gujarati), The Bong Connection (Bengali) Jodha Akbar (Rajasthan) etc. In the telly world, regional families which have become more of household names are Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Gujarati), Mayaaka (Punjabi), Karam Apna Apna (Bengali), Bidaai (UP, Agra), Saath Phere (Marwadi), Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (Rajasthan), Kasautti Zindagi Ki (Bengali), Grihasthi (Punjabi), Ba Bahu aur Baby (Gujarati).

Even stars are enjoying the cultural cross breeding. Reshhmi Ghosh aka Bhoomi Virani in Kyunkii Saas Bhi... feels, "Being a Bengali, I didn't know much about the Punjabi or Gujarati culture. But having worked in serials like Kyunkii and Kayamth, I have picked up a lot about the way they eat, talk, dress and worship. I enjoy Dandiya and Bhangra today as much as I enjoy Durga Puja."

In a country like India where a large majority of the population still talks about divide and rule, believes in casteism etc, the regional offerings on TV and Bollywood have served as an apt platform in bringing about a feeling of togetherness, nationhood and patriotism embedded within an innately regional framework.

The stupendous success of the Akshay Kumar starrer Singh is Kinng has proved a plot based largely on Punjabis can be a national and international super hit. If only, the essence is being Indian. Reshmi asserts, "I thoroughly enjoyed the film, though I had to keep my eyes and ears open to understand the intrinsically Punjabi wit and humour which came at regular intervals. It was amazing to see the beautiful revelation of Punjabi culture."
Mona recalls, "I saw the film with my friends and I was the only one laughing, as I knew exact Punjabi. My friends kept asking me about several dialogues in the film. Similarly, when I watched Namesake ; I couldn't understand many scenes that bore a typical Bengali accent. So, it's a welcome change from largely commercially viable movies which cater only to metros. These regional flavors add to the interest and curiosity to know more about one particular culture."

So, this Independence Day, let's celebrate the regional flavour in its true spirit, by saluting the innate Indianess in all of us.