Star Sports, Mon-Thurs

For sport buffs the magic continues this week, too. As a prelude to World Cup '98, the Tournoi de France is a special event with four soccer giants coming together in a single tournament. The contest continues as Italy takes on Brazil on Monday (June 9), England meets Brazil on Wednesday (June 11) and finally, there's France takes on Italy on Thursday

(3 pm, also check for late night repeats).

HANSTE HANSTE, dd 2, Thursday, 8 pmIn this show, we see rib-tickling movie scenes. This week's star is Kishore Kumar, though slotting this all-round performer as just a comedian is unjust. Still, he was one of the few good comedians we had, probably the best. The programme begins with the start of his career as a small-time actor in his brother Ashok Kumar's Bombay Talkies and follows his struggle to become a top playback singer. Watch scenes from his famousBombay Ka Chor, Dilli Ka Thug, Manmauji, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Half Ticket and many others.

TOOFAN TV, Star Plus, Thursday, 9 pm

Funny as it may sound, but it is indeed good viewing. The series presents the world of weird Indian B-movies. Where Roman gladiators woo Rajput princesses, snakes seduce men, cowboys speak Tamil and Tarzan does the Samba. It will feature cult movies and undiscovered gems. It will look at genres of horror films and westerns, and show how Bollywood has turned them into something Indian. Also, uniquely Indian forms, like the dacoit wave and thenagin movies. Toofan TV will also meet the men behind the scenes -- the directors, the studio owners, the make-up men and the special effects people -- men of high ambitions and low budgets striving to recreate the battles of the Gods or the latest Hollywood blockbuster in a tiny studio.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.