As you shoot at the IMax Wadala for ‘Bbuddah’, news breaks of the killing of OBL BigB

As you shoot at the IMax Wadala for ‘Bbuddah’, news breaks of the killing of OBL BigB

Jalsa , Mumbai         May 2 , 2011      Mon 11 : 59 PM

As you shoot at the IMax Wadala for ‘Bbuddah’, news breaks of the killing of OBL. And all the tv channels are full of nothing but that. Expected. He has been wanted by the USA for a very long time, and yesterday they got him. Many questions shall arise. Right from his location to the repercussions, to the way forward, to what next …

There are going to be a great many questions that shall need to be addressed. And all one can say at the moment is that greater days of vigilance and care are necessary.

The IMAX was built to house … well … just that ..a large screen . I do not know whether it is still functional, but it is a very large facility and does have all the required ingredients to make it most prestigious and event friendly location. Why many of my responsible films have had their premier at this locale -Sarkar, Black, Paa , to name a few. The days of the premier are fast evaporating. What a moment of excitement they used to be. Mostly conducted either at Minerva or Metro. Thousands of onlookers, jammed streets, enthusiasm among the fans … now all gone. Now the artist or the star is reachable. There are not too many communication ingredients that existed then. The masses were starved of seeing or being in close proximity to their favorites. Not any more. Everyday fresh and new inventions flood the market place, not with the intention of deliberately making the stars familiar with, but to state that invention is an evident phenomena. It cannot be ignored or side stepped in todays time. Sidestep and be sidelined !!

Marketing is and has become the main tool of films its makers and of course the product itself. Nothing moves today without the consultation of the gurus of  public relations. I loathe the process. I am uncomfortable beating my own drums. But everyone else says it is the norm today in todays times. If you do not talk about yourself, nobody is willing to talk for you. Which in a creative field is somewhat faint -

‘So did you get to see my film. I have done a most incredible number in it’ !!

‘Call me at this number, answer some select questions and win a prize - a car, a fridge, tickets to a recent movie ..’

‘We are here sitting atop the Eiffel Tower, taking in Paris and asking you to go in large numbers to my film in India..’

‘I personally think this has been my best performance till date. Wonder what will happen tomorrow ?’

And on and on and on ….

I am unable to talk about myself, leave alone talk about how many credits I possess. How can one ? Where do they get the courage to put themselves in such a position. This world is unknown to me.

But …. all the young tell me otherwise. If you will not, no one will. General appraisals that bring about a fair degree of self assessment shall of course prevail. But perhaps not the other one.

I may post a picture on my blog or on my twitter and be flooded with comments that only speak of how promotional I am getting. Why can they not understand that I could be genuinely interested in speaking. Good bad indifferent is not the point, just sharing something without intent.

Ah ! But the age of genuine comment has long been lost. Accumen, intelligence and all else, has become a dependent. They are no longer our valuable assets, they are now being termed as severe liabilities. Many a time a piece posted in deep thought and reflection gets buried in unresponsiveness.

There are many in my EF who are exceptional in their content. What they are able to see and judge is exceptional. I never fail to read as many as I can, before turning away for the day. What they say lingers for long. Finds appreciative audience when shared. Changes our perspective, and gives us a view never seen before. That truly then is the main course of this platform …

May this be understood and practiced …!!

Amitabh Bachchan