{"id":4241,"date":"2018-05-07T20:06:12","date_gmt":"2018-05-07T14:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=4241"},"modified":"2018-05-11T16:01:11","modified_gmt":"2018-05-11T10:31:11","slug":"frames-75-rare-memorabilia-artworks-amitabh-bachchan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/frames-75-rare-memorabilia-artworks-amitabh-bachchan\/","title":{"rendered":"75 Rare Memorabilia, Unique Artworks to Celebrate Amitabh Bachchan’s Platinum Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Amitabh

FRAMES 75: The first of its kind visual journey celebrating the life and times of the nation\u2019s tallest icon in his 75th year (Amitabh Bachchan in front of RK Studios, clicked by Pradeep Chandra)<\/p><\/div>\n

What can be a better way of celebrating the platinum year of India\u2019s iconic star, actor Amitabh Bachchan who turns 75 this year, than with a journey through his illustrious career? But this celebration has a unique speciality. Not only will it have rare and extraordinary memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan\u2019s trailblazing career, it will also showcase art that conceptualises the Big B in various unique and exceptional ways.<\/p>\n

Renowned photojournalist, author and occasional painter Pradeep Chandra and eminent film archivist, historian and author S M M Ausaja, have joined hands to curate a unique show titled Frames 75<\/em> which uses rare photographs, paintings, sketches, posters, block print art, vinyl LP covers, lobby cards and hand-bills in 75 frames to celebrate the superstar\u2019s journey so far.<\/p>\n

St Regis, Mumbai, will host the preview of this unique exhibition in Mumbai on 9th<\/sup> May 2018, to be opened by Amitabh Bachchan and the invitees shall be guests from the film fraternity, media and art world, including celebrities from across the fields. The exhibition will then be showcased at Whistling Woods, the film institute headed by noted filmmaker Subhash Ghai.<\/p>\n

\"Pradeep

(L to R) SMM Ausaja, Amitabh Bachchan and Pradeep Chandra. The framed picture in the background is a group photo of all the characters the Big B played in his various films.<\/p><\/div>\n

Chandra told this writer, \u201cWe both have been fans of Amitabh Bachchan. I started my career almost at the same time as Amitabh Bachchan did. When he was shooting for Reshma aur Shera<\/em> in Rajasthan, I was shooting for Do Raaste<\/em> and Mera Gaon Mera Desh<\/em> in Rajasthan. I have been photographing him for the last 35-40 years and my pictures have appeared in various magazines and publications. I have written a book on him, titled AB The Legend: A Photographer\u2019s Tribute<\/em>.\u00a0 Before doing this book, I did a huge tribute exhibition to Amitabh Bachchan on his 61st<\/sup> birthday at J W Marriott, which had 61 artworks, photographs, furniture, sculptures, etc. It was inaugurated and praised by Mr Bachchan and received critical acclaim. From time to time, occasionally I write on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"rare

The Kala Patthar<\/em> look with a difference: Amitabh Bachchan and a bidi<\/p><\/div>\n

The idea came about when during a discussion, Chandra and Ausaja thought that since they have so much visual material between them on Bachchan, how about showcasing a cross-section of rare pieces to mark the superstar\u2019s platinum year. Chandra asked his painter friends to do some paintings on Amitabh Bachchan and some digital work on his photographs.\u00a0 And Ausaja brought in posters, block prints, photographs, LP covers, and other rare collectibles.<\/p>\n

Once the idea started crystallizing, the two curators made large prints of their planned exhibits and presented their concept to Amitabh Bachchan who liked the work and agreed to inaugurate the exhibition.<\/p>\n

Speaking to this writer, SMM Ausaja, said, \u201cMy idea was to showcase images and frames which are rare. I have deliberately avoided the Shahenshah<\/em> jacket look, the Deewar<\/em> knotted shirt look because everybody identifies Mr Bachchan with that. So if I picked up Deewar<\/em>, I am now showcasing the artwork of an artist with Amitabh Bachchan and a bidi<\/em>. So Deewar<\/em> is there but in a new look.\u00a0 Similarly, there is a photograph of Mr Bachchan when he began his film career. He is wearing a pink shirt and white trousers in a colour photo. You can barely recognise him! After the success of Anand<\/em>, when he became a star, it is the postcard sized photo which he sent to his fans. I have blown it to a frame.” Another artwork from Kala Patthar<\/em> which has Bachchan with a bidi will also be on display.<\/p>\n

\n
\"rare

A rare poster of Yaarana<\/em>, where Amitabh Bachchan is holding a guitar with an Elvis Presley look<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Now everyone recognizes Mr Bachchan with the French cut beard. But if you look back at his career, there is no French cut beard anywhere except in Toofan<\/em> and Amar Akbar Anthony<\/em> in the climax. There is one French cut beard that happened in Pukar<\/em>, 1983, in one scene where he is sitting on the bonnet of a car, in a black French cut beard. I have picked that scene. This is a showcase of a very different look of Bachchan which people will not even remember. Then I am using a poster of Yaarana<\/em>, where he is holding a guitar with an Elvis Presley look.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a beautiful hand-painted showcard of Faraar<\/em>, the Sharmila-Amitabh film. It is a Shanker Mukherjee film and a personal favourite too. Strangely, no one talks about this brilliant film written by Gulzar,\u201d Ausaja added.<\/p>\n