From Raakhee Gulzar to Rakhi Sawant

By Subhash K Jha

Mumbai: From Raakhee Gulzar to Rakhi Sawant--baby, you've come a long way!

Are stars losing their sheen in global market? Going by the cold and indifferent way they are being received at world concerts, it would seem like the end of the aura-era for film stars.

Just imagine -- Dilip Kumar or Madhubala dancing to their hit songs on stage. While the phenomenal Yusuf saab could've ripped the screen apart with "Nain lad jayhai" or "Mere pairon mere ghungroo" from his "Ganga Jumna" and "Sangharsh" can you begin to imagine what Madhubala would have caused besides a stampede, if she had got on stage to do her exquisite 'raas-leela' act "Mohe panghat pe" or the ultimate item song "Pyar kiya to darna kya" from "Mughal-E-Azam"?

The mind boggles at the thought. Fortunately, for Indian cinema, the greats desisted from getting on stage to gyrate. Maybe that's one of the reasons why they remain great in our minds to this day.

Maybe one reason why ...