An entire day with the print media depleted all the vacant energy that I may have stored up

Jalsa , Mumbai   June 17/18 ,  2011       Fri/Sat  1 : 26 AM

An entire day with the print media depleted all the vacant energy that I may have stored up, but coming home to witness the ‘Sa re Ga Ma’ Li’l Champs show on Zee Tv just reinvigorated all that I had lost. What talent and what an amazing bunch of little kids, singing like senior professionals .. just unbelievable ! Moved me to tears just seeing them perform. Absolutely stupendous !! Raw fresh unknown, but determined to do well .. from small town India .. without any kind of inhibition or self consciousness .. firm, strong, determined and confident ! The innocence of their age reflecting in every little glance of theirs, the effortless singing in their performance and then the apprehensive shy expressions after they are done with it and wait apprehensively for the judges to pass their verdict on them … such a delight !! Now a regular feature for us, Jaya and I. Ah .. ! Still cannot get over those incredible moments … !

Print media took up the entire day in office on the road in the offices of the Indian Express where they conduct ‘Chat Shows’ with members of their in house journalists. A pleasant evening. I think I spoke too much, not allowing any of those present to express themselves, but interesting all the same. For one that perhaps utters a few sentences in an entire day, to have continuously spoken for hours is quite an achievement ! It numbs you. And that is not all. Even while driving back there were mobile interviews conducted en route .. with the traffic situation one could have covered the entire media of the country just sitting in the car. But … but …. but  … sitting in the car for an endless period of time causes other problems as well … You need to get to the ..errr.. euphemism ??

Came a moment when it was simply uncontrollable. I just had to get to a wash room ! But where ? And how ? Stuck in the middle of nowhere in traffic that looks like an enlarged parking lot, full. So … you invent ! Got off the car and before passers by could realize who it was .. ”Arre .. isn’t that Amitabh ? No ! No .. what he be doing walking the streets “! I fortunately discovered a small temple by the road and charged in asking for the toilets. A somewhat dazed security quite involuntarily pointed to the back of the structure and I just made it time before I burst opened ! The hazards of weak bladdered humans !! And recognizable at that !!

The ordeal over, I walked back to the car, which had not moved an inch from where I had left it and finally got home. For long I had moved about in a van that had been gifted to me by the irrepressible ManMohan Desai, the first of its kind in the Industry - seats, make up facility, bed, toilet the works .. never faced any problem till I had it. Now apparently they have nappies for elders too ! ha ha ! Seriously … I saw some of them - a bit embarrassing to talk about all this, but you know, its interesting to know … for emergencies can happen at the drop of a ‘ traffic jam’ !!

Oh ! I spoke at great length at the Express chat show on the blog and my devoted Ef, and what they did and how they conducted themselves … felt so proud to speak about all of you and what you have meant to me !! The audience was suitably impressed .. their expressions said a million words .. they were so impressed !

Thank you and Good night !!

Amitabh Bachchan