Yuvraj, Big B inspire each other on Twitter

Yuvraj, Big B inspire each other on Twitter

New Delhi: Both Yuvraj Singh and Amitabh Bachchan are battling serious ailments. While Yuvraj is undergoing chemotherapy for a rare germ cell cancer in Boston, Big B has underwent a couple of abdominal surgeries and is recovering at a Mumbai hospital.

On Tuesday, both the stalwarts wished each other quick recovery on Twitter.

Yuvraj tweeted: "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seamed with scars..." 

Mr Bachchan replied: "@yuvsingh09 could not agree with you more ... hope you are doing well Yuvraj .. prayers for your speedy recovery." 

Yuvi thanked him for his wishes and said: "and one of the biggest examples is you mr bachchan ! Thank you very much I'm better each day." 

On February 14, Yuvraj gave a great piece of news to all his fans as a Valentine's Day gift. He tweeted that his tumour was almost out of his system.

"Got very good news from dr lawrence today! The tumor is almost way out of the system Aftr reading my todays scan !Second cycle has started."

Dr Einhorn, who is known to be the among the best cancer doctors in the world, had also treated legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, who had suffered from testicular cancer in 1996.

Yuvraj, who has been in Boston since last month, is expected to be back on the field in the first week of May, according to his doctor. His second cycle of chemotherapy has started.

The 30-year-old, who went to US last month, has gone bald during the treatment, which will go on till the last week of March before the process of rehabilitation starts in April.

After being diagnosed with the illness, Yuvraj has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of three home Tests against the West Indies in November.

He has so far scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 runs in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000. He was named Player of the Tournament in the World Cup for scoring 362 runs and grabbing 15 wickets in nine matches.

Amitabh Bachchan prays for Yuvraj Singh's speedy recovery

Amitabh Bachchan prays for Yuvraj Singh's speedy recovery

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is himself recuperating at a hospital inMumbai following two abdominal surgeries, wishes a quick recovery to ailing cricketer Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer in the US, on Tuesday posted a positive message on Twitter, stating: "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seamed with scars."

To this, Big B posted: "Could not agree with you more ... hope you are doing well Yuvraj ... prayers for your speedy recovery."

While Amitabh has been at the Seven Hills Hospital since February 11,Yuvraj is undergoing chemotherapy at the Boston Institute of Cancer Research in the US.

Yuvraj praised the 69-year-old's strength, and added in response: "@SrBachchan and one of the biggest examples is you Mr. Bachchan! Thank you very much I'm better each day."

Amitabh too is responding well to his treatment, and should be discharged from the hospital in a few days. However, he says his full recovery could take months.

--
Mahi

Beti B not named Abhilasha: Amitabh Bachchan

Beti B not named Abhilasha: Amitabh Bachchan

Author and columnist Shobhaa De's recent tweet about Beti B has sparked off a fresh round of speculations about actors Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan's three-month-old daughter being named Abhilasha. "Beti B to be named Abhilasha? That's a stroke of genius. Well done, parents. Abhi and Ash. Truly inspired, if true," tweeted Shobhaa. The name immediately caught on, as it comprises the names of both Abhi and Ash. However, grand-pa Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently recuperating from a recent abdominal surgery has denied Beti B being named Abhilasha.

"@DeShobhaa not true ..." he tweeted in reply. The other name that was doing the rounds until recently when Abhishek issued a denial was Aaliya. At the time of going to press, no name had been confirmed and insiders insisted that the name will only be announced by Amitabh, on his return home.

--
Mahi

Amitabh Bachchan to play Tagore

Amitabh Bachchan to play Tagore?

When Sunil Gangopadhyay penned Ranu O Bhanu, it created a huge controversy in Bengal. The reason for the strong reactions was that in the book, Gangopadhyay had written about how Rabindranath Tagore had seen a young Lady Ranu in the nude! Now that Manish Goswami has got the film rights for the book that will be directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwidevi, the concern across board is about how this particular episode will be shown in the cinematic adaptation.

Says Gangopadhyay, "A couple of months ago, the producer had sought the rights for my book. I had told him then that he would find it extremely difficult to adapt this film. But he insisted that he would be able to go ahead with the project. Fearing this controversy, I suppose, no one in Bengal has ever sought the rights for the movie. I've been told that the Hindi film will be a kind of a biopic. We have no intentions to belittle Tagore. We are not even casting aspersions on anyone. But our problem is that we always think that our icons are asexual and can't ever have affairs."

Back when the book released, there was a huge upheaval in the culture corridors about how Gangopadhyay could have written something about Tagore seeing Lady Ranu in the nude. "This is not a fictitious account. Lady Ranu had herself written about this and that's how I got to know about it. But one has to remember that writing such a thing in a book is one thing while showing it on screen is quite another.

One has to remember that in our country, we have no reservations about young girls being in the nude. Ranu was a bit of a tomboy and her parents would often have her dressed in trousers and shirts. Initially, Ranu's family used to live in Benaras and they would be in touch with each other through letters. Later on, when they shifted to Kolkata, Tagore would visit them. In fact, Tagore found a similarity between his daughter and Ranu. When his daughter was ailing, he would go to meet Ranu because the latter reminded him of her. During one such visit, he had seen Ranu in the nude," he adds.

Reports claim that Amitabh Bachchan's name has been in the wishlist of actors who might play Tagore and Gangopadhyay seems okay with the idea of such a casting. "He is a good actor and is also aware of Bengali culture. As for Ranu, one would need a girl who will age from 10 years to 22 years. That is if one follows my book," the author says.

Meanwhile, Dwivedi says, "I am an avid reader of Hindi literature and Ranu O Bhanu was the first English novel that I finished at one go. It was an amazing subject and Manish was very keen that he made the film. We discussed it at length and I know this will be a lifetime opportunity for me to direct such a film. Initially, when I read the book, I was very surprised with the revelation on how Tagore saw Ranu in the nude. A part of me had felt it was an imaginary account. But come to think of it now, one knows that there are so many girls in villages in that age group who have not really bothered much about their attire. Nobody would even raise their brows at such incidents."

However, Dwivedi admits that showing such a scene on-screen would be the toughest job in his career. "It is a very sensitive subject and one has to handle it with kid gloves. I have spoken to some poets about the relationship that Tagore shared with Lady Ranu. All of them have said that certain relationships should be left undefined. There is a Hindi poem that goes like: "Dheekha baat azm ki/kahn sunan ki nahi/jo janat hai so kahat nahi/jo kahat woh janat nahi." These lines, I believe, perfectly define the relationship between Lady Ranu and Tagore. Here were two people who were happy with their interaction even when the outside world was seeing it in a different perspective."

As for casting Dwivedi is still undecided. "Amitabh Bachchan was part of the wishlist but we haven't had any talks on it yet. For Lady Ranu's character, we need someone who is not only beautiful but has a great degree of innocence on her face. People are surprised with my casting of Sunny Deol as a panda in my film adaptation of Kashinath Singh's Kashi Ka Assi titled "Mohalla Assi". This is a play that was first adapted by Usha Ganguli and I decided to make the film after reading the review of Ganguli's play. Those who have seen the rushes of my film are amazed to see Sunny Deol in the role of Sanskrit teacher from Benaras. For this Tagore movie, I am first going to decide on the screenplay and then finalise the casting."

Shooting for the film will begin in Kolkata. Says Goswami, "It is a fascinating book and I am very keen on starting the film. We will strictly follow what's written in the book. Though the content might be controversial, we mean no disrespect to Tagore in any which way.

Some relationships are above definitions and we stick to that. I am contemplating on making a bilingual film on this. We will be locking the script of the film in a few months. Once the script is ready, we will decide on the shooting dates. Tentatively, it will be done during the end of this year. We haven't locked the title as yet but we will certainly not go with the name of the book. Few would know that Tagore's name is Bhanu. We will have to come up with a title that is nationally relevant."

News timesofindia.indiatimes.

central line’ came out a short while ago a good looking healthy 6

Hospital 7 Hills,  Mumbai                   Feb 22 , 2012              Wed 11 : 45 PM

The 'central line' came out a short while ago … a good looking healthy 6″ of needle immersed into your neck 'vein' and the relief of mobility now cannot be aptly described. The body is now free from all 'kites' and wires and soon shall be free from this hospital as well. The intensity of the pain and discomfort is describable only when it is present. Then too it is difficult to put a finger, or a standard, or a level to it. It is only when relieved from it that you begin to realize how large it was. Soon hopefully this intricate and most unique human body shall also make us consider that in the past, and very little shall remain in our memories. At least that is what I have noticed. But then my case may be viewed differently. There have been so many incidents that it is best none of them leave any stain of remembrance behind. It would be disastrous for my mind to accomodate so much of my own misery. So, deliberately or otherwise, it has continued to remain away, and thank God for that.

It makes for great sympathetic narration, your troubles and trials. But after a while, even the listener shall wonder when your tale shall come to an end. They would rather begin to narrate their own experiences with the knife and doctors than listen to yours ! Its the way of humans and life. Its a sentiment I have often written about. So then, before the rest of the Ef begin to yawn and wonder on ways of changing this topic, I must take the hint and stop.

 

The wonderful Tabu visited today and spent sizable time, talking of many connected and unconnected issues. Of film and nature, of quality and appreciation and of course her own considerations on the kind of films she wanted to be associated with. A joy always to be with her.

It shall now be a few more days when I shall be heading home. The mind has already begun to programme the time to be spent and how. There shall be the obvious precautions, but besides that a desire to utilize the time in constructive learning and to acquire knowledge of matters still a mystery for me. the fact that all this comes to the fore now when most of your life span is over is strange. But then either you spend time in establishing yourself and your dependents, or time on learning. The insecurity of losing opportunity in the establishing, weighs heaviest at these times and any diversionary act threatens to diminish your worth, which I might add is something that you have spent your most valuable time in establishing it. But then, it has never been too late to start and I feel now is as good a time as any.

 

The two incisions on the lower belly are now visible. They look clean and neat, but obviously a presence you would rather not have among the already rather congested stomach. I believe in time, the fresh 'entrant' into the community, shall exert its presence, much to the chagrin of those already there, but as has been experienced in the past, they all settle down to love and respect each other. They all carry different and exciting tales, each one of those scars. And at any given time they must be conversing with the others that occupy sensitive space on my belly, on what transpired when and what its consequences were, before they begin to appreciate the 'newcomer'. So long as they do not talk about inviting some more within them it should be fine. Up to being a golf course was fine, but talk of another 18 holes would be devastating !!

 

A bit morbid I think on my part to get into this conversation and so with multiple apologies and excuse ..

Good night ..

Amitabh Bachchan 

A lot is wrought through prayer than we sometimes tend to imagine

Hospital 7 Hills , Mumbai           Feb  21,  2012           Tue  8 : 51 PM

A lot is wrought through prayer than we sometimes tend to imagine. Your dedicated prayers have given me the strength to overcome many hurdles in life, and for that I am truly grateful. The body listens to your words and feelings. It obeys and instructs other sections too, then finally an overall improvement occurs and soon we are back on our feet. This miracle, this gift from all of you is the most precious, and I promise to guard it to the best of my ability.

A shower in the morning avoiding all the intricately placed 'kites' and needles and wires, can become arduous and one that involves great calisthenics. But the effect is astonishing. It is almost life giving in its nature. It is natural then that normalcy approaches rapidly and one hopes that it shall be soon. The course of injections and medications need the services of the 'central line'. Once that is removed, many hurdles shall become clear and resolved. A few more days is what I look at and then shall begin the long convalescence. Perhaps of some months.

 

There is a strange withdrawal symptom  that begins to creep in before a 'discharge' from the hospital environment. Suddenly the dependency on the staff, the facility and attendance medically which operates automatically through doctor advise and instruction shall come to a halt. The gentle care and smiling attention of the nurses shall create a void when away from it. The regular and short at call doctors on standby at every indication of discomfort shall stop, and most of the battle shall be with yourself and your repaired body to deal with. We never wish for anyone to be in such circumstances when they may have to go through what generally, patients go through, but fact is one can never safely admit that they shall perennially be guarded from it.

Pray it may never happen to any of us or anyone ..

Modern medical care has made such massive progress that it is unimaginable how the times of 1982 and the times of 2012 differ from each other. The entire effort, as one who has been a 'victim' of both eras, is so remarkable that the ailments, at least in my case have offered better and easier care, as opposed to those that put patients in unavoidable pain. Science has constantly tried to make things easier as it were. Devices and gadgets have and are being constantly manufactured and thought of to improve conditions, and such a boon that is.

Not just in the field of medicine, but in all other vocations, it is being attempted of how the suffering can be reduced, how what was earlier done manually is now executed by machines that run to well tested and efficient working systems designed my humans to assist humans. This service to humanity is beyond praise and gratitude. Computers have been constructed to think by themselves. But they do not actually think by themselves. Mankind designed it in a manner that if offers services that seem to express that they are thinking by themselves.

That famous scene in '2001 – a Space Odyssey' when HAL the computer decides to go against the command of its own operator was a frightening example of what was going to come in the future. It was not the computer that decided, it was human programmed to such degree. Its death scene therefore was one of the most poignant cinematic moments, in recent times and one that established the huge genius of its maker Stanley Kubrik. It is remarkable how some of us are constantly thinking of bettering our lives for us. It is a boon. Though many conservative and conventional thoughts, do disagree and lament the absence of what prevailed in their times. It is the way the world has worked.

The human brain has not been matched yet with its speed of operation by any computer so far. Some years ago they said a third of the speed of the brain has been achieved, and soon more shall follow. What would really happen when you have a machine that works to the speed, or past it. I wonder. Whatever the result, what is reassuring is that the fact that it shall remain an invention of the human. In a sense then are we saying that the human shall go past itself ?

I remember driving to Jaisalmer for the shooting of 'Reshma aur Shera' when we learnt of the first moon landing by a human, and suddenly all the romance of poetry that had symbolized itself with this terrestrial ethereal body up in the skies, seemed invaded. Will we see or experience other planetary invasions in our lifetime ? Perhaps our grandchildren may … you never know !!

 

Love to all ..

Amitabh Bachchan