AR Rahman on his life and music

In a exclusive interview the legendary Bollywood music composer talks about his extraordinary musical journey, his struggling childhood and his personal faith in Islam and Sufism. He talks about his father's illness that forced him to work when he was a little child. He says: "I didn't want to take a big journey. I wanted Roja to be my last film... by then I was sick of working..." Rahman will soon be conducting the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, he begins by telling what he shall be playing there.

Bollywood in UK Part III

Passion for romance, melody and Yashraj Films
British Asians had little interest in the action films, they liked on-screen romance, melodious music and a fair mix to NRI life and swadesh. Yash Chopra captured the mood and his Dil Wale Dulhnia le Jayange (1995), with a collection of £1.7 m, became one of the highest grossing films ever in the overseas market. Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) album sold more than 4 million copies and Veer Zara became another big hit. Avtar Panesar tells the story of Yashraj films in the UK.

Bollyeood in UK Part II

Cinema arrives again 
Then three films - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Chandani (1989) and Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) - dramatically changed the scene. Late night Bollywood shows returned at the Odeon Marble Arch. Later Bell View cinema opened in Edgeware. Independent theatres mushroomed in many predominantly Asian towns. By the mid-nineties multiplexes like Cineworld and UCI began regular Bollywood shows. Asian audiences began to arrive in theatres in large numbers.

Bollyeood in UK

Avtar Panesar, the head of Yashraj Films, UK, has very closely witnessed the rise of Bollywood in UK. In this three part interview with the NRIfm editor Vijay Rana, Panesar tells the story of the rise of  Bollywood in UK. 
Early Days
Though a few  Bollywood films were shown in the UK in the sixties, regular cinemas opened in Southall in the seventies. Going to cinema was a big family occasion and was followed by spicy Indian meals in the Southall dhabas. But in the eighties the arrival of VCR killed the cinema in UK