New Delhi: Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, aaja, aaja, the song from Mithun Chakraborty's 1982 blockbuster Disco Dancer is a favourite with Marina Maximova and many others from her country, Kazakhstan. But superstar Shah Rukh Khan is unknown there.
Marina, editor-in-chief of Almaty TV, cannot understand Hindi but loves Mithun's films as well as those of Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor. "The films are so sensitively made, so beautiful," Maximova said.
"Indian films are very popular in our country. We have film clubs where the films are shown," Maximova told IANS here. She was in the Capital along with Kunanbayeva, a freelance journalism trainer, and Alexandr Gabchenko, producer with television web service Stan.tv.
The three were here last week to attend a workshop, "Template for Multi Media Training Manual on HIV/AIDS Reporting for Media Professionals", sponsored by Unesco.
Sita Aur Gita, the 1972 hit film that had Hema Malini in a double role, is another film that Maximova remembers.
But ask about Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and other current reigning actors - and one draws a blank.
"Yes, there is someone very beautiful, some Rai," ventures Gabchenko. "Oh, Aishwarya Rai," you suggest helpfully, to which he replies, "Yes, she's the one."
But the mention of Mithun's name lights up their expressions. "He is a favourite with us. Last year, Mithun was a special invitee at a function and all his fans were waiting eagerly for him. But he failed to turn up. We were all very disappointed," said Gabchenko.
There is a special channel in Kazakhstan that beams only Indian films, music and entertainment programmes, which are quite popular, said the strikingly pretty Kunanbayeva.
The Indian embassy there is also quite active and organises film programmes, Hindi teaching classes, yoga and other activities, she said.
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