As the strains of the theme tune from Limelight Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece Big B

Jalsa , Mumbai  July  17 , 2011     Sun  9 : 47 PM

As the strains of the theme tune from ‘Limelight’ , Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece , engulf your entire being, you feel the strings tugging at your insides in pathos and the beauty of its composition. They are by far the most simplest notes ever. Much like that solitary sitar piece from Satyajit Ray’s ‘Charulata’ as she in the opening sequence walks from window to window alone and lonely in her home …

Its the simple things in life that have the most lasting effect. Chaplin’s Limelight was a film that remained with me during the 50’s when as a young school going senior my Mother had taken me to see it in New Delhi. The haunting melody of the theme gets your hair on end even now, as does that last sequence in the film when he slips on stage and falls inside the drum - ‘ … i’m stuck .. ! he says with a smile on his face when we all know that he has virtually broken his spine ..

And this afternoon as we run through the list of films that appear on the tv screen, we suddenly stop at ‘Chaplin’ the film directed by Richard Attenborough, with that master with the camera Sven Nykvist and a host of some of the most brilliant actors from the world of cinema. And playing the lead role, that actor who many rate as the best, well I certainly do, Robert Downey Jr. What a performer and what an actor ! An actor I feel that has never been given his due. One that perhaps strayed a little due to his drug abuse, but one that has come out of that successfully and still continues to surprise us in film after film ..

We have sat and watched it in a silence that such films deserve, for, not only does the film do great justice to the genius of the character itself, but also the finesse with which the performer holds every bit of your attention right till the last sequence.

And one wonders as the quiet after the credits role takes over, whether there shall ever be occasion  for someone in our world to make something similar. Its a continuation I would like to believe of what transpired last night on the tele when we connected with Nargis ji and her tribute that was broadcast. remaining in that same frame of mind there evolved a discussion on the trends and the era of those greats at the dining table. And some every enlightening moments of debate ensued. Of the fluency of the language that prevailed among the artists then and how brevity of speech and other distractions have taken over now. The factor of time and lesser distractions, the only form of entertainment, of the youth and their ways of change through generations, all forming legitimate reasoning throughout the informal talk. Change brings development and progress. And change shall always be looked at cynically by the generation that has gone by. Each generation shall always play true to the present and how wonderful it is. The older and the elder shall always lament the lack of ingenuity now, and harp on ‘those were the days’ …

And it is most interesting that the debate continues even in the studios of today among many and I find myself in a unique position of having been with ‘those days’ and having the privilege of being with the ‘now’. The average age on set must be 25 or 30 today. For a 70 year old that is a frightening difference to find himself among these youngsters. But it is I must agree a most educative experience for me. I enjoy the agression and determination to succeed among the young. Their passion and their confidence in never getting rattled by any circumstance. The relaxed devil may care attitude and the strength of being capable to deliver what they conceive or set out to do … I just love it … and I hope and pray that some small portion of their countenance would rub off accidentally on me so I could be better equipped in their circumstances .. !!

And as tomorrow dawns I creep into bed with apprehension .. its Balki again doing domestic service - producing film for the wife and has me in for a day’s cameo with SriDevi .. !!

Allow me then the departure to prepare and be rehearsed .. to take care of the butterflies that are being dowsed as I write, with liquid shakes from the kitchen, prepared with care and attention by Jaya ..

Good Night all and wish that all goes well tomorrow … !!

Amitabh Bachchan

As I wait for the appointments to mature during the late afternoon Big B

Jalsa , Mumbai       July  16/17 , 2011       Sat/Sun  1 : 18 AM

As I wait for the appointments to mature during the late afternoon, I sit myself down in front of the ‘black and white’ unknowingly, unaware and without purpose. And as the lights appear on the board signaling the operation in process is complete, the chords begin to vibrate on their own at the touch of certain ‘white’. Further down the mixed line of keys to sound, the fingers touch the smooth plasticated oblongs stuck close to each other in one symbolic orchestral embrace. A depression on one brings in the melody of instrument, the other the rhythm of percussion, and then it all plays out in related symphony. Of sound without a purpose or need. Sound for the sake of sound, but gratefully in keeping with the note of approval. The mind sings, the fingers move hesitantly ; for they are untrained and not worthy of music. The volume pushes it forward, the pedal at the feet expands it to levels of echo and of stretched note. Before you move to the next, the one before still rings loud and in continuity. Not much is heard, but what is, moves the elements of music to the ear. The eyes shut at times, the fingers search the ‘whites’ unsure whether they reach the correct spot and then … bliss !! Not a care or concern of the world, or life or work and commitment. Just the wave of connection with the purest symbol of godliness - well tuned sound in correct note …

Almost hours pass by .. unknown. It has this effect, music. And you almost wish it would never end. But it does abruptly with a crackle of electricity and we are down to earth and reality and greetings and formality and positioning and mundane speech on schedules and stories for the future. You wonder at times whether we registered any at all. But polite diplomacy and protocol never killed anyone, and so you concur and agree and approve without perhaps having understood the reason or intent. Does it really matter ? Get me the work, get me the story, get me the character, get me out of here and on to the floor, the camera, the people and co stars … just get me out …

When there is nothing there is television. However did we live in those early years without it. How symbolic and needful a tool it has become to compensate for conversation. And there through various breaks a journey of the lovely and distinguished Nargis from the time of birth to the time of rebirth. Fascinating nostalgia. A historical journey through time and cinema and the greats that trod the bastions of the varied studios of those times. What an era that was - of Nargis and Madhubala, of Waheeda Rehman and Nutan and Suraiya, Meena Kumari, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy, Mehbood Khan, K Asif, Shankar Jaikishen, Naushad, Motilal … and the names just keep flowing, dwarfing us all in one large sweep. How incompetent and unqualified and inferior we feel in the reflection of just their names. Truly a Golden Era of endless talent and superiority .. never perhaps to be relived again ever …

That is the tragedy of time. It comes, lives and passes by, never to return. What remains is the reflection. Reflection to reflect and remember, and that is all …

Amitabh Bachchan

सीरियल धमाकों पर मीडिया पर बरसे बिग बी

सीरियल धमाकों पर मीडिया पर बरसे बिग बी 
 
मुंबई। बॉलीवुड मेगास्टार अमिताभ बच्चन ने आतंकी घटनाओं की सनसनीखेज कवरेज के लिए मीडिया पर जमकर निशाना साधा है। बिग बी ने कहा कि ऎसी दुख की घटनाओं पर भी टीवी चैनलों में सनसनीखेज रिपोर्टिगव प्रतिस्पर्घा की होड़ लगी होती है। 

अमिताभ ने अपने ब्लॉग पर लिखा है, "एक बार फिर से हमारे शहर मुंबई को निशाना बनाया गया है। हम पर घृणित आतंकी हमला हुआ। नेताओं ने हमेशा की तरह घटना पर चिंता व्यक्त की लेकिन जिंदादिल मुंबई ने काम पर लौटकर दिखा दिया कि हम एकजुट हैं और ऎसी घटनाओं से हमारे इरादों को कमजोर नहीं किया जा सकता।"

बिग बी ने मीडिया पर भी हमला बोलते हुए लिखा है, "एक बार फिर से टीवी चैनलों ने धमाकों की साइट से एक्सक्लूसिव व सनसनीखेज खबरें दी, उन्होंने यह दिखाने की कोशिश की कि वे किस तरह से सबसे पहले आपके बेडरूम तक इस दुखद घटना को पहुंचा रहे हैं।

--
Mahi

Another dark night in the city of Mumbai and another dark moment for the nation

Sopaan , New Delhi        July 13 , 2011          Wed 11 :53 PM

Another dark night in the city of Mumbai and another dark moment for the nation. Blasts in three of the most congested areas of the city have been devastated by IED’s , improvised explosive devices, causing the deaths to many and the injured into the hundreds …

We had just flown in to Delhi by the afternoon and I had been sharing the joy and happiness of the entire family being together after such a long time – the Nanda’s, the Rai’s and all of us along with the children. We were here for the honor ceremony by the French Embassy for Aishwarya, bestowing upon her the medal of honor in the Arts and Letters. Minutes before we were all set to leave for the function, the news started trickling in on the blasts in Mumbai and we stopped in our tracks too shocked and dismayed at what had happened yet again in this beautiful city of ours. The first reaction of course was for the safety of people, but as time passed by the horror of those killed and injured became prime.

Aishwarya who had already reached the location, rightly, after consultations and advice from us has decided to cancel any celebrations for the French Honor and has declined to accept the medal on a day when the country was reeling with this fresh menace that had just occurred in the city. The occasion has been postponed. We are back in our homes in Delhi and have requested the honor programme to be put to to another day. It would not be proper to celebrate a personal achievement, when this horrific tragedy of wanton and meaningless killing has occurred in Mumbai.

Many of our friends and well wishers have been sending in messages of concern to us. We are all safe, but our hearts go out to the families of those that have lost their lives and have been injured.

Yet again our city of Mumbai has been made the target of a brutal attack. Once again there shall be concerned voices raised by those in authority. Once again Mumbai will show its resilience and get back to work as rapidly as possible. Once again Tv channels shall give exclusive reports from the site of the action, claiming, how they were the first to bring this tragedy to your doorstep. At the end of the day, even when you are fighting an adversary the desire, by certain forces to capitalize on the situation does not change. And it does leave a very bad taste in the mouth. Once again the city shall limp back to normalcy and in a few months the incident will be forgotten. Fresh and more inventive topics shall rule the roost.

This is the nation, the country, the polity … we identify ourselves with it. It is ours and we shall defend its sovereignty through the years and years of association and strong determination.

Stay well dear FmXt ….

Love,

Amitabh Bachchan

Promoting films has become as important and time consuming as making them

Jalsa , Mumbai       July  12,  2011        Tue  8:30 PM

Promoting films has become as important and time consuming as making them ! The element of bringing to notice this vast multitude and inviting them to come and see it within a week, for that is the duration of most films these days, at least as an indicator for their commercial prospects, has now become the yardstick. We never had it in our time and neither were we ever conscious of it. It was left to the producer and the distributor how it needed to be exploited. But times have changed now. There is greater awareness as far as communication goes ; mediums of which have increased a million fold. The funding and the investment involved is too large to be given space and time for 25 or 50 weeks to gain recovery. The popularity and the time span for films or for that matter any other communication device has limitations. On Tv, by the evening the most important news gets stale. On film, the very next week people are talking of the next release. Speed and attention have reduced our mind set to get over any aspect with a certain rapidity and move on. Move on because, there is something to move on to. It wasn’t so in the earlier days. And so we succumb to the dictat of the times. Television, the radio waves, internet, mobiles, have all taken up the space that had lain vacant and not utilized.

We live in a world where quick fixes, quick results, rapid speech, immediate reaction and result are the desired elements. Bless the new generation and change. Without fresh thought and change there would be no progress. Rapid speed brings in a vacuum. And those that cannot attach themselves to the pace, will live and suffer in that bottomless, airless space. Perhaps to be able to just breathe sufficiently well, but never move on. Catch up ! or Shut up !

The process is repetitive. The same questions answered with the same content, but with a face and expression as though it is being heard for the first time. Much like acting in front of the camera. The greatest test for any actor is to play his lines when ‘action’ is activated in a manner that suggests that they are being heard for the first time. They are not, but. We get them months ahead and at least days before it is going to be shot. We also live with them on set, rehearse several times, give retakes of it, but each time it is played, it is played as though it is being heard for the first time. The expression and the performance then, is the real test of an accomplished actor.

Rajni , Rajnikant never indulges in this practice. The practice of promotions. And on occasion when we talk film informally, he often questions me as to why I do this. Its like selling yourself like a product he often tells me. We laugh over it, but I explain to him that he is Rajnikant, he does not need it. For him it happens on its own. For lesser mortals like us we need to excite audiences, to propel them to take interest, to get them into the theaters !!

Great marketing minds and professionals work round the clock, monitoring, researching, what works and why and how a film needs to be sold to this very large and diverse audience. Extensive plannings are put in place and many serious discussions occur on design timings, opposition, pitch and many other such technical terms of which I am not too familiar. I would imagine the need to exist and to excel, propels us into all aspects of its achievements. Existentialism. In a philosophical sense - to exist as a free responsible agent determining their own development through independent will. Jean Paul Satre would probably whack me for bringing this theory in, through his popularized writings. But in an abstract way the power of independent will, does creep into this whole process of self aggrandizement and sale !!

Many ask me the need to do this, for, does it not hurt the entire theory of enigmatic presence, often related to celebrities in the medium of film. I joke with them and respond by saying that at age 70 what is the enigma you talk of. Life has become so informed, the whole mystique of the star value has been reduced to a click of a mobile camera phone !! You cannot go anywhere without being recorded for posterity. The paparazzi will and is omnipresent. It is the need of the hour. Not so much for us than for them and the media they represent … or sell to ! Competition in media is so acute, especially in the electronic that every little matter becomes matter of substance. And if it does not become it is made to become. That is the nature of the business and the opportunity and the freedom to run is entirely theirs.

The film ‘Rann’ did bring in this element. The media is the conscience of the nation. It is also a flourishing business. Do you then, compromise with your conscience to enhance your business, or compromise with your business to protect the purity of your conscience ! And today is it not ironic that the largest media group in the world - the empire of Rupert Murdock - falls prey to exactly that. Exposed and admitted that they conducted malpractices for the sake of sensational tabloid press. Of buying up silence to wrong deeds, even to the extent of hacking information from the dead !!

The power and control of public information and the strength it executes in guiding and ruling Governments, decisions that shall affect millions, putting people in postions of extreme execution … all controlled by one man and his intricate and well managed empire, the media !! That is a a very large price for humanity to pay.

And I ask today. When the largest and most respected institution of the fourth estate, indulges in such practice, is it too far fetched to naively believe that it does not happen at other destinations too, that are relatively lesser in profile. Rajdeep Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghosh who are the leading anchor journalists at CNNiBN did very bravely put this question out on their respective twitter accounts, but I never saw any responses to it of relevance. Have they inadvertently put their finger on a raw nerve ? Very fairly too, some of the more mature channels have held debates on the topic at prime time hours and reached some public opinion, interspersed withcommercial breaks and mobile phone ins that create revenue. Even when they put out their own adversity, they make money ! The dichotomy of business and conscience plays here too, not too far away from the basic theme of a film that was rated on their own channel as a failure !!! Am I permitted to express a wry smile here, or will that be taken as a transgression towards media ethics from an outsider ???

There is much to speak out, but better judgement and prudence restrains me, as it indeed must. Prudence, because you never take on the media. The fear of repercussions against you at personal and professional levels is too large. You fear them because they control public opinion. For those in public life it is akin to committing harakiri. You shall never be able to match their power and strength. You either sleep with them, or prepare to sleep in a grave.

People in public life are exalted beings. Pedestalled, admired and loved. The commerce in media will only result when these exalted beings are brought down through fourth estate exposes. Writing good about the good is bad business. We are all humans, prone to mistake and error. We shall always be vulnerable. Best then to admit defeat and bear in silence, or conversely mollify them to keep their wrath at bay … much like what many did, as is now heard, with Rupert Murdock …

In peace and in extreme love towards the media ….

Amitabh Bachchan