Film and Fame Chapter Notes | Year 7 English IGCSE (Cambridge) PDF Download

Meeting your hero

Cinema Buzz

Extract 1: Prem’s Life in Bombay
Prem, a young boy, lives in the bustling city of Bombay, which he considers the most important city in India. The city teems with activity, from vast factories with smoking chimneys to endless shops and bazaars. However, the film studios, the heart of Bollywood, captivate Prem the most. He loves visiting the Regal Picture House, where he watches exciting films produced right in Bombay.

To afford cinema tickets, Prem works after school at a sweet stall outside a nearby hospital, owned by Mr. Rahna. For half an hour each afternoon, Prem manages the stall, selling sweetmeats to passers-by and storing the money in a cash box, allowing Mr. Rahna a break to meet friends. One day, a friend asks Prem who he thinks is the best film star. After considering Jani Sudha and Goel Prakash, Prem declares Rasi Paliwalar the greatest. 

His friend agrees, noting that many consider Rasi the best in the world. Prem admires Rasi’s heroic roles, where he fearlessly rescues people from floods, tigers, or bandits, embodying limitless courage. Rasi is unmistakable with his tall frame, broad shoulders, glinting teeth, and a voice that shifts from a deep growl to a shriek in action scenes.

Predicting the story

Extract 2: Meeting Rasi Paliwalar
One afternoon, Prem arrives at Mr. Rahna’s sweet stall as usual, but business is slow, and Mr. Rahna warns that few sweetmeats may sell. The heat nearly lulls Prem to sleep when a large car stops outside, and Rasi Paliwalar, the unmistakable film star, steps out. Rasi asks Prem which sweets he recommends, his famous voice resonating. Nervously, Prem suggests they’re all fresh, hoping Rasi won’t mock his shaky voice. Rasi, smiling pleasantly, asks which tastes best, and Prem points to a tray of mango-flavored fudge, popular among customers. 

When Rasi asks if Prem goes to the films, Prem eagerly confirms he attends weekly. Rasi nods approvingly, buys ten pieces of fudge, and pays with coins before dashing back to his car, which speeds away. Examining the payment, Prem realizes Rasi gave three times the required amount. Though many might keep the extra money, Prem, honest and eager for another chance to meet his hero, resolves to return it, knowing Rasi’s wealth doesn’t justify keeping what isn’t his.

Real Lives, Real Problems

Hrithik Roshan’s Struggle

Hrithik Roshan, a Bollywood superstar, has faced a lifelong battle with stammering, a speech difficulty marked by pauses and repeated sounds. Despite his fame, he continues to practice daily to manage his speech, controlling secondary actions like twitching. A report suggests he may become the brand ambassador for The Indian Stammering Association, following a meeting with nine members at his home on March 15. 

Hrithik shared that stammering troubled him from childhood into 2012, well into his film career. He recounted practicing intensely for an award ceremony in Dubai to say the word “Dubai” fluently, ultimately succeeding. His sister, Sunaina Roshan, wrote in a blog post about Hrithik’s dedication, recalling how, at age 13, he read aloud for hours daily, often alone in the bathroom, for 22 years to combat his stammer. Hrithik’s perseverance inspires many, showing that even a superstar faces and overcomes personal challenges

Reviewing Films

Animated Superhero Family

Film Reviews

Jenny Hampster’s review of "The Incredibles", published in a British newspaper, describes the film as an incredibly funny and warm comedy that left her laughing uncontrollably, feeling as though she’d been flung through walls and hurled into the sky, much like the film’s pixelated characters. She compares it to a blend of "X-Men" and "Batman" but notes its modern, fresh take, crediting Pixar for reinventing superhero tropes. Set in the late 1940s, the story follows Mr. Incredible, voiced by Craig T. Nelson, and his fiancée, Elastigirl, voiced by Holly Hunter, who can stretch in any direction. 

They use their powers to fight crime until lawsuits force them to relocate. Fifteen years later, a now balding Mr. Incredible is tempted by a mysterious offer to resume superhero work, raising questions about the offerer’s true intentions. The animation and soundtrack are mind-blowing, but the humor, especially from Edna Mode, a bespectacled superhero costume designer, steals the show. Hampster recommends "The Incredibles" as a classic family holiday film, praising its fresh take on the superhero genre.

Preparing a Speech

Thai Cave Rescue: Global Recognition

The twelve members of the Thai Wild Boars youth football team and their coach, Ekkapol Ake Chantawong, gained worldwide fame after their dramatic rescue from a cave where they were trapped for 17 days. Appearing on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show, their first group international television appearance, they seemed unfazed by their global celebrity. 

The frenzy surrounding them persists as they travel the world, including a visit to Argentina for the Youth Olympic Summer Games in Buenos Aires. On Tuesday, the Thai prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, presented them with the Asian Game-Changer Award, recognizing the glory they brought to Thailand. Their story of survival and resilience continues to inspire people globally.