KANK breaks all overseas records

AUG 21 - Karan Johar's latest Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna -- KANK for headline writers -- has set the cash registers afire in videshi cineplexes and swadeshi multiplexes while the take in tent-cinema Bharat is said to be more modest, reported TOI.

Word from box office gurus in America is that KANK raked in $1.4 million over the weekend, beating the previous record of $1 million set in 2001 by Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum (K3G).

K3G was a story set mostly in London, just as KANK is set almost entirely in New York. Johar's previous film, Kal Ho Na Ho (KHNH) was also shot in New York.

"Rich NRIs watch such movies not so much for the story as the baubles. If there is a piece of jewelry or outfit or home they like from the movie, memsahib will be on the next phone or flight to India to get it. Occasionally, when they like the whole shebang, they will have the film cast and crew flown in to recreate the full Monty, as one diamond merchant from Antwerp did some years back," commented TOI.

Ustad Bismillah Khan dies at 91

AUG 21 - Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, one of India's most celebrated classical musicians, passed away in the wee hours on Monday.

The 91-year-old Bharat Ratna awardee, who had been ailing for quite some time, died of cardiac arrest at the Heritage hospital.

Khan had been admitted to the hospital on Thursday with age-related health problems and weakness brought on by his refusal to eat solid food.

"His condition suddenly deteriorated and he suffered a cardiac arrest at 1.45 am. Although Khan was put on the life support system, doctors could not revive him. He was declared dead at 2:20 am today," hospital superintendent P S R Aiyer said.

Ironically, Khan's condition had marginally improved on Sunday and he had been expected to regain his health soon.

Doctors attending on him had said the Ustad's vital parameters - pulse, respiration rate and blood pressure - were at normal levels yesterday. He was even given solid food after he expressed a desire to eat home-cooked 'halwa'.

Khan had appeared to be in the best of spirits and even sang a couple of songs for attending doctors, Aiyer said.

Although he had been ill for quite some time, Khan had repeatedly expressed his reluctance to be taken to hospital and was shifted by his sons and personal physician only on August 17 after his health took a turn for the worse.

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