Who ever constructed the ‘Happy Birthday’ song, had great foresight and vision

 Jalsa , Mumbai                    Mar  17 ,  2012                           Sat  10:24 PM

  

A day full of flowers around the house, colored, strong smells and in huge large bouquets … greetings for the birthday girl, Shweta … a quiet birthday just with family, but full of warmth and love and the little things that go to make a young lady happy …

Tomorrow its her husbands birthday … Nikhil turns the same age ..

Who ever constructed the 'Happy Birthday' song, had great foresight and vision. Or did he /she not ? Did they ever imagine that it would be sung in every corner of the globe each minute … and now I believe, there is a copyright on it, so when it is played publicly they pay IPR, or whatever it is that constitutes the regulations of payment for copyright.

And was it a confectionery that devised the concept of the cake and the candle on that wishful day. The number of candles signifying the years, the burning of them, the blowing away and the wishes, the cutting and the feeding … nowadays I see a very ugly side to it, where they smear the cake icing and all on the birthday candidates face .. so unbecoming and so messy … just not a very pleasant sight to see or to perform … birthday bumps it used to be .. now its this other facial routine. The posterior pain was better !!

Who started these practices ? And how have they defied time and distance and location to live on for decades .. !! My Father in defiance of this practice, perhaps influenced by the struggle for independence during the Raj, wrote his own birthday song, which on occasion we often sing ..

Varsh Nav, Harsh Nav … jeevan utkarsh nav …

I think my parents both Mother and Father sang it for the first time in Allahabad for Pt Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday ! I think .. I need to look it up and confirm … it has stayed with us and whenever possible is played out .. I do like it immensely … and instead of the cake , the 'khoya' .. I do not have an English convertible for it, but has condensed milk and heaps of sugar and is incredibly delicious .. the candles have been replaced by a single 'diya' and that is all the auspiciousness that gets associated with birthdays … this and the temple for blessings of the Almighty and the feet touching of the elders for theirs …

Todays generation sends emails and musical greeting cards and sms and mms and God knows what else to express birthday wishes .. oh yes and on the mobile too, jamming it to numbers in my case at least beyond 1500 at times… so that it takes almost a year .. perhaps till the next birthday to respond to it .. !!!

As kids we looked forward to birthdays, because of the gifts … even if it came in the shape of a new pencil !! You slept with it under your pillow for days, not wanting to lose its new look … kept the wrappings and the ribbons .. some still do .. for years inside folded pages of books … opening up at times just to remember the moment …

Ah ! the innocence of youth and the beauty of devotion and love … such wondrous thought and feel as you go back to those memories ..

Hey ! do I bring up the topic of memory often these days ? They say it signifies aging and perhaps, 'nirvana' around the corner … better stop then ..

Time to be spent with the kids now and in solitude with them for a few days .. alone …

Love to all and my sincere thank you's for all the wishes that you sent for Shweta .. I did attempt an entire brigade of yellow today, but did not cater to all … my regrets .. but I do live in your thoughts and your words .. Thank you ..

 

Amitabh Bachchan

tabloid Is Aaradhya a lucky name

tabloid Is Aaradhya a lucky name?

Four months after birth, Beti B finally has a name. And, actor-couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan's daughter's name Aaradhya has become a hot topic of discussion. The name that means 'to be worshipped' in Sanskrit, was the trending topic on microblogging site Twitter as soon as it was announced on Wednesday.

While the family has not given an official statement as yet, reports suggest the family registered the name at BMC (Bombay Municipal Corporation). Astrologers predict that the name would prove lucky for the baby girl.

"The baby's name sums up to seven, depicting planet Neptune. Her destiny number sums up to two, depicting moon. She will be lucky and will be a celebrity like her family members," says astrologer Vikram Mehta. 

Tarot card reader Seema Midha agrees: "Many celebrities have names that start with A. That is a plus for her. Her name sums up to number five which will be very lucky for her as well as her dad because his number is also five. I think she will make a name in Hollywood." 

Numerologist Niraj Mancchanda says, "On her birth, Amitabh Bachchan banned the media. That was indicative of her power that she managed to keep the entire media away." 

News HT

I behave tonight .. beating all expectations of another DHR situation

Jalsa , Mumbai                           Mar  16 ,  2012                      Fri  11 : 00 PM

 

  

Kalpana Kakade … Happy Birthday for the 16th of March .. happiness and fulfillment always ..

 

I behave tonight .. beating all expectations of another DHR situation .. there is but reason. The first born of my generation in the family, Shweta celebrates her birthday tomorrow the 17th of March and in order that we can bring it in without the worry of having to post late, brings me up to connecting now. Shweta came in to Mumbai with Agastya this afternoon to spend time with us and nothing could be more enjoyable. The house resounds with the laughter and energy of her presence every time she comes in and today is no different …

 

Finally then, Sachin got his 100th hundred century and what an achievement ! The first to ever get there and perhaps the last. I cannot imagine any other achieving this extraordinary feat. And just as great are his achievements, is his generosity and etiquette. I sent him an sms message on his achievement, even while he was in the middle and receiving the appreciation of all his admirers, and sure enough within a short while later, I got his acknowledgement. A gentleman, a genius, God's own gift to the sport, humble and graceful under all circumstances.

 

I was short last night because of the time constraint. I shall probably be short again because the hour of 12 when Shweta moves into her birthday, approaches. But I know that you will understand my excitement, and the desire to be with her shortly after I finish this valuable connection.

Children grow away fast. It was just the other day when we were all at Breach Candy Hospital here in Mumbai, anxiously walking the corridors and giving strength to Jaya, as she went into labor at the time of Shweta's birth. Today she has walked in with her 11 year old who the entire evening has been teaching me how to download certain kinds of music, how the film he has made on his computer with his friends, is a film that moves in reverse and demonstrated to me the scientific skills of Cristiano Renaldo, the ace footballer and some other greats on his screen. There is of course this 'grave battle' that ensues with his Mamu, because they support different soccer teams – he is with Man Utd, shining at the top of the table and Abhishek with Chelsea, not doing well this season !!

He is in the middle of studying the history of the freedom struggle of India and in his more private moments with his Mother or me, gives vivid details of the leaders and revolutionaries that fought at the time for our Independence ! Such a joy to hear children speak with authority and confidence !

But yes … the morning was early too .. just a couple of hours of sleep and once awake just could not get back to the bed … and so .. it was music again .. the laughing matter among most of the Ef by now, because of my repeated mentions. It is obsessive though if I may say. There is the attempt to never let that refrain move too far away from one. Repetitions almost render one helpless in the throes of the aura that builds around you. One imagines oneself in that song, in that moment of tune. One builds a story a situation about it and puts itself into it to enact, to feel, to absorb all that it offers. It is really quite absurd, but I wonder if the others here today feel and go through the same feel. Then … when one is involved it is most distressing to come away from it. Its like leaving a loved one behind. The notes of the music keep playing in your mind, again and again. Any other refrain never does stand a chance of even remotely getting to be near it. So as you travel, meet people, watch Tv or whatever, there is this music that keeps taking over, suppressing your desire to pursue what needs to be pursued. The heavy presence of its being surmounts all else, much like many of Beethoven's Symphony, where the gentle flute or string representing desire, gets almost suppressed by the heavy orchestral presence of fate. We desire, fate overcomes us … well almost .. in the philharmonic creativity of the masters.

 

But enough of that now … due respects to dear friend Ludwig .. they do become your friend do they not, as they occupy a large portion of your existence .. much like what friends do  … much like what the Ef do ..

Love,

Amitabh Bachchan

I wish to thank all those that commented on the Blog responses about yesterday

Jalsa , Mumbai                         Mar  15/16 ,  2012                                Thu/ Fri  2 : 52 AM

Apologies, apologies, apologies … a thousand apologies for this long wait and causing anxious Ef stress and wonder. I have been busy with yes, music. And once it starts its a different world. Singing, composing, arranging and providing instrumentation all by myself can be arduous, but so fulfilling.

I wish to thank all those that commented on the Blog responses about yesterday’s, somewhat serious content. But I thought of what I had in my possession needed to be shared. There are some that are in response that need to be shared too .. and if I have their consent would want to post it back to my friend who I am certain shall be most delighted. May I ? Thank you … I do not wait for agreement. What you send on cyber belongs to the world, and perhaps if I were to do it without the asking it would pass muster. But we are a civilized lot, living in a civilized platform, among civilized people. We follow civilized routes and forms, do we not … Yes ! of course we do ! Another self answered proposition .. its one of those days when a laugh at 3  is worth every AM !! Did I just actually say that ?

Ok .. enough of trying to be soft and light hearted, when the dictat from all is to hit the bed .. so its bye for a few hours .. I need to get up by 6:30 of the AM … now don’t ask me why .. its just that I have to … so …

Good night !!

Love and …

Amitabh Bachchan 

Shoojit Sircar to release documentary on Big B

Shoojit Sircar to release documentary on Big B

Mumbai: Director Shoojit Sircar is putting together a documentary on Amitabh Bachchan, which he says reveals the megastar in moods never seen before. The film is based on the extensive tours of Gujarat that the director undertook with Big B, the brand ambassador of the state while shooting 14 films promoting the state tourism.

"Mr. Bachchan and I travelled to nearly 25 towns cities and villages of Gujarat to shoot these films. Initially, I was excited by seeing facets of Gujarat that I had never seen before," said Sircar known for his directorial debut 'Yahaan'.

Shoojit Sircar to release documentary on Big B

"Then I realised I was traveling across Gujarat with the coolest co-traveller in the world. Mr. Bachchan's energy level, his poise in front of 50-60,000 fans and most important of all, his inner tranquility in those rare moments when he was without hordes of people staring, cheering, demanding his time...I was simply blown away by the way he approaches life and people," he added.

Luckily Sircar, who made the unreleased "Johnny Mastana" with Amitabh, shot ample footage of him and these are now being put together in what promises to be a rare insight into the heart mind and soul of India's greatest actor.

The footage would be accompanied by reflections from the Big B's personal diary.

"We shot the 14 films for Gujarat tourism in five phases, the architecture of Gujarat, the Buddhist culture (which no one knows about), the handicrafts, the religious rituals and the festivals," he said.

"In Ahmedabad when we shot the kite-flying ceremony, he (Big B) was surrounded by 50,000 people and still jumped right into the milling crowds without a fear. In a remote part of Gujarat Mr. Bachchan drove a phat-phatiya (three wheeler) with a bunch of villagers...He hopped onto a bike and drove down a highway...It was an amazing experience."

The most heart-in-the-mouth moment, captured in the documentary, was when Amitabh insisted on going into a 300-feet deep well.

"We wanted to shoot one of the deepest wells in the country. Mr. Bachchan suggested he climb down to show just how deep it is. We thought he was joking. But no. He actually went down the iron pegs inside the well right down to where even the camera couldn't see him," said Sircar.