Seven Deadly Arts with Akshay Kumar

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Seven Deadly Arts with Akshay Kumar is a seven-part television mini-series that aired on the National Geographic Channel in 2004. It was hosted by Akshay Kumar.[1][2][3] Kumar donated his time and talents to the show.[4]

Description[edit]

The series showcases the seven martial arts of kalaripayattu, Shaolin Kung Fu, karate, taekwondo, aikido, Muay Thai, capoeira and .[5][6] Kumar, who began learning martial arts at age 9,[4] played the master for taekwondo, karate, and Muay Thai, and played the student of the other forms of martial arts from different trainers.[7] The series' tagline was "The first thing you learn to kill is your ego".[8][9] Kumar shared his personal beliefs about martial arts and talked about the benefits it brought to him.[10]

Broadcast[edit]

National Geographic Channel announced the series' launch on 27 April 2004.[11] The first part was aired on Sunday, 9 May 2004 at 8:00 p.m. The rest of the parts were aired on the following Sundays.[12] Before the series was launched, National Geographic Channel had planned to broadcast the series' second part in October–November 2004.[13]

Cast[edit]

  • Akshay Kumar
  • Shifu Kanishka Sharma
  • Josette D. Normandeau
  • Mehul Vora
  • Puran Chauhan
  • Luisa Elvira
  • Jean Frenette

Production[edit]

Kumar and his personal trainer, Mehul Vora, wrote the script.[14] Vora also choreographed the mini-series.[15] The series was shot in Manali, Himachal Pradesh and Mumbai in a span of 40 days. The series marked Kumar's television debut.[16][17]

During the series, Kanishka Sharma taught Shaolin Kung fu to Kumar.[18] Sifu Kaniska Sharma is the first Indian to be trained in Shaolin Temple Secular Discipline Union in China.[19] Yogesh Sahu directed the series. Puran Chauhan also trained Kumar. After the series, Chauhan worked as a stunt director in several Hindi films.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Akshay Kumar: lesser known facts (Slide 3)". The Times of India. The Times Group. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  2. ^ Cine Blitz. Vol. 30. Virginia: Blitz Publications. 2004. p. 127.
  3. ^ Business Today. Vol. 17. Living Media India Limited. 2008. p. 99.
  4. ^ a b Fernandes, Vivek (26 April 2004). "Akshay Kumar: Winning hearts with martial arts!". Rediff.com. Mumbai. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  5. ^ Sahota, Baldev (3 November 2011). "Akshay Kumar's Karate-do a Hit". Desi Blitz. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  6. ^ "A Khiladi and his kicks". The South Asian. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  7. ^ Iyer, Meena (3 August 2009). "Step into the ring with Akshay!". The Times of India. The Times Group. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  8. ^ Raheja, Dinesh (7 June 2004). "When A Star Shoots The Moon". Outlook. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. ^ Outlook. Vol. 44. India: Hathway Investments Pvt Limited. 2004. p. 44.
  10. ^ Bhayani, Viral (15 May 2004). "Akshay Kumar spills secrets of marshal arts". India New England News. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  11. ^ Singh, Ashish (27 April 2004). "National Geographic Channel to launch martial arts series with Akshay Kumar". Exchange4Media. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Seven deadly arts with Akshay Kumar!". Sify. 26 April 2004. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  13. ^ "Nat Geo savours local flavour". Mumbai: Indiantelevision.com. 27 April 2004. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  14. ^ Chakravorty, Sohini (24 March 2012). "The art of defence". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  15. ^ Irani, Mahafreed. "The New Fight Club". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  16. ^ Gupta, Parul (27 April 2004). "Akshay makes deadly debut on TV". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  17. ^ "A martial affair". The Tribune. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  18. ^ Banerjee, Soumyadipta (31 March 2010). "'Gong-fu' with Kanishka Sharma". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai: Diligent Media Corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  19. ^ Shetty, Shakti (8 September 2013). "Meet the man who teaches Bollywood stars how to fight!". Mid-Day. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  20. ^ Dubey, Sanjay (14 July 2007). "The Practice of Perfection". Tehelka. Retrieved 21 October 2014.

External links[edit]