36,000 feet above sea level ! Flying in from Mumbai to London BigB

Apr 9, 2011       Sat  9 : 45 AM  IST

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36,000 feet above sea level ! Flying in from Mumbai to London on my way to Krackow, Poland ! The rising sun of a new day has just made its appearance behind me spreading its warmth through the soft cover of clouds and the reddish winter line.

It is Jaya’s birthday today. She has reached ahead of me a few days back and awaits our arrival. Our ..? Yes … Shweta our first born, travels with me to wish her Mother and then accompany us to Poland and Krackow.

Krackow invites us for a couple of days to be a part of their Festival of film and to honor my Father at their University. ‘Black’ shall be screened on one of the days, and a recitation by me of some of my Father’s works for the students is part of the schedule. And then back to ‘Bbuddah’ which seems to be progressing with some rapidity and possibly an early release.

Some extraordinary pieces of writing were witnessed in the responses yesterday, on issues that I had addressed and I am most grateful for them and their content.

I think many among the extended family got the essence right. For one as vulnerable and as profiled as myself, each breath we take invites a certain measure of caution. The circumstances that we get subjected to despite wanting to be treated as normally as possible, does not I am afraid warrant immediate instant vociferous reactions. We would be sitting in our homes doing nothing else but commenting on every issue that gets thrown up in society. The media, with its immense and stratospheric presence waits patiently, or compels us to give reaction to all, that would get them the eyeballs. Nothing wrong there. It is their job, their culture, their business that drives them to it. For every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction, the laws of physics not withstanding, and soon what would normally have passed over as drawing room banter, becomes a ‘devastating’ crisis that needs a Socratic solution !

As an artist in cinema, my ability and intelligence is limited to our craft. As a proud citizen of my country, a national, I am without doubt and question an Indian. Have always been and shall remain so ever. In life struggle has been an integral part of our existence. So long as there is life there will be struggle. Each struggle has its own parameters and conditions. And each individual shall have his or her own concern on its importance and relevance in their lives. But yes, there are some struggles that encompass us all. As citizens, as a national. Those demand immediate and collective attention and support. Now how they be addressed cannot be dictated by some informal dictat. It is something that comes from within, on its own accord and will. The mode of its expression shall vary, but that does not vary the intent.

What seems of paramount concern to me or several others, may not necessarily be of much concern to others. Corruption will be an issue to those conversant with it. How will the poor laborer, or the farmer tilling the earth react to it is a pertinent question. For them their immediate need for better working conditions, for having the capacity to pay back loans without contemplating suicide is primary. They do not even know how to spell the damn word ‘corruption’.

My Father did a poem in free verse on a similar condition in society.

The poet walks out of his home one morning and encounters a whole group of laborers, poor, in despicable condition, and in torn and disheveled clothing, working in the heat of summer in repairing the road in front of our home. The women carry the heavy basins full of rubble and coal tar on their heads towards their men who dressed meagerly lay it into the ground, their sweat mingling with the contents of the paving. By the side on the road, the woman has put aside her new born child, wrapped in what ever pieces of garbage clothing she has managed to pick from dustbins to cover the babe. Hungry and devoid of nutrition, the mother has perhaps given the crying and anguished child a bit of ‘apheem’ so that it sleeps and forgets its hunger !

Today is not an ordinary day says the poet to the woman laborer. “ Do you not know that the Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri has suddenly passed away in Tashkent while there on an official visit to put an end to the Indo-Pak war hostility. Every corner of the nation is abuzz with discussion and debate on who shall now be the new Prime Minister – Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai or … Crowds are collected outside Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House at important junctions of the city, anxious to know who their new leader shall be. And here you are, busy with your work, not concerned at all about the outcome or have any interest in who will replace the late Shastri ji. What kind of person are you ..?? “

The woman worker lifts the veil covering her modesty over her head and in subdued voice answers, reluctantly –

“ Saheeb ! If you can replace my Supervisor here where I work I shall be grateful. He is a vile and incorrigible human. He harasses and troubles us to no extent. Change him ! Can you do that for me please !! “

The poet is stunned by this response and says he has no words to offer beyond this. He stands beside her looking and observing her, allowing what she has just stated to sink in. The woman has gone back to carrying her burden of duty, to earn a meager living to feed her hungry child, to face the humiliation and the pain of poverty and her rogue supervisor …

The poet has walked away deep in thought …

It’s a poem I love and have recited on many an occasion. Not just for the beauty of the verse, but for the universitality of its social expression …

Amitabh Bachchan

Music that great healer, that element of upliftment and spirit BigB

Music that great healer, that element of upliftment and spirit

Jalsa,  Mumbai  Apr  7,  2011      Thu  11 : 56 PM

Music that great healer, that element of upliftment and spirit, that connection to an unknown God like ecstasy What is it about sound that goes beyond boundaries and barriers, beyond any resistance, beyond culture and race and religion. Its eternal quality living and growing amongst us without any hindrance or obstacle, the greatest boon of nature. Seven notes in all its permutations and combinations is all that is available to mankind for the creation of music. What great genius they are that have through centuries played within those restricted notes and made historic landmarks that shall live ever in our minds and thoughts. Remarkable !!

I have spent after a long hiatus some musical moments with Vishal and Shekhar at their studio for the music of ‘Bbuddah’ and it is such a joy and pleasure to be in their company. In chords and raga, in struggling with words and tunes, notes and forms to recreate that one song that shall convey the meaning of that moment in film.

Film in India without music of song is a vacuum that cannot be filled by any other. It takes away the need of expression in dialogue. It creates a space that no other substitute can. It may seem vacant and obtuse to those that are not accustomed to it. But in our lives and in our creative form, music and song has and shall always have a prominent position. What it expresses is beyond the quality of the form. It is a moment where words fall insufficient, feelings cannot be better expressed, be it in happy climes or in moments of sadness.

How did mankind discover the importance of this eternal melody. Where and how were the instruments that added to the ambience of the sung song appear from. How were the raga and the orchestral extravaganza developed. Wherefrom the symphony and its construct. Just so many questions unanswered. Blessed are we that have the liberty and the extreme pleasure of enjoying its presence. But greater blessings are with those that have the knowledge and the art of playing it. What ecstasy and highs must they go through when they play for the benefit of their own will. Hours and days could go by without ever realizing their presence. Lost in the world which they build with such dexterity, they are the truest and closest to that unknown force - the force that runs our world for us. Nothing could be closer to godliness than the convergence of voice and instrument in harmony. For me it is the ultimate expression of pleasure. There are other more nature created pleasures, but nothing quite as close to the sound of the soul in tune. For, when we hear that perfect note, it is the signal of undisputed reverence. The body quivers with expression, the smile of appreciation jumps up without it being asked to, the rhythmic extensions on and over the body are not programmed or pre planned. They work involuntarily. Nature, or whoever created nature built this in us. Some in small measure, some greater. Those that have the greater are of envy. For me at least. For, they possess that which makes them greatly accomplished to string those chords which others may not.

I have been keen and deliriously anxious to get educated in this ecstasy. Someday I hope it will happen. Some day …

Pooja from the responses expresses with unabated sarcasm the issue of comment on the Anna Hazare fast, from me. It is painful to know that without having complete knowledge of the matter from my end, she could assume factors which are not existant. It would be foolish to think that any individual that is a citizen of our great land would ever not want to acknowledge factors that express a oneness and benefit for ones own country. Anything that is done for the betterment of our system is laudable. To state that I am busy and interested in earning my money only and not concerned with matters of social interest, is completely unacceptable and unfair. Social networking platforms are built and exist on a basic principle - the freedom of individual expression. If one is going to make it a station for accountability on each and every aspect of life then it is time to search another location. Without the knowledge of fact and detail it is not considered prudent to accuse or draw conclusion. We all go through a lot in a day in our lives, but the benefit of having a vehicle that ‘twitters’ and ‘blogs’ does not compel one to bring it to its mention. How would you ever know what has been done or is being done in respect of the issue you mention. More importantly, what are you doing in that respect. Other than talking about it or at best putting your belief and support on paper, how conversant are you with the issue and the cause. Yes, I believe in the most salient factor in this matter. I shall always be supportive of any issue which benefits the nation. You are intensely interested in the cause and we all are. But does the quality of the interest truly disengage us from the matter. Your ‘quality’ has been tickled by the intensive reportage from the electronic. How many electronic have committed themselves to the cause. Merely doing hourly reportages of it for their commercial existence and putting questions to be answered by others is a neat duck from putting their own foot into it. It would impress me greatly if a ’stringer’ sent on a mission to report the news were to drop the microphone, desist from reporting and join in with the fast - something that they keep asking us to do. They would gladly ostracize us for not commenting or giving reaction and make it sound horrendously wrong. But how many of them have done what they ask us to do. Unless they feel that they are not citizens of this country. In which case they do not have reason to question us in any case. Or if they did, the prerogative to respond or not would be ours.

I do not have to preach and shout out my allegiance towards my country from every roof top every day. My loyalty is not up for questioning and is not, most certainly, in a realm where it can be doubted.

Koi bhi kaam ya yojana jo desh ke hit mein hoti hai, uski sarahana karte hain hum .. aur iska dhindora hum peetana nahin chate .. aur na hi hame is ka gyaan hai ki woh peeta kaise jaata hai .. !!

Namaskaar .. Jai Hind !

Amitabh Bachchan

I had not punched kicked or walloped a guy in ages ! BigB

I had not punched kicked or walloped a guy in ages !

Jalsa,  Mumbai   Apr  6/7,  2011    Wed/ Thu  1 : 02 AM

I had not punched kicked or walloped a guy in ages ! At least not in the past 15 years or so ! But finding myself in those climes for ‘Bbuddah’ I must admit I was really missing something. The stride has been firmer, the heart pumping the blood through the veins as rapidly as one would imagine and that strange feel of having conquered all, fills me up with enthusiasm, hope and a brighter tomorrow. There is a strange connect in this and I sometimes wonder why the earlier films got the kind of attention they did when they did.

The patriarch, the gentle giant, noble and dignified has long been the image that has been adhered to. One forgets how important it had been for those that identified with it. Violence has never been an appreciative point, but an action that has remained for a cause has forever found favor. Breaking away from what transpired for long, bringing back what had been dormant, is now what this home production choses to accomplish.

There is a suppleness of mind and body and that is most enduring and welcome. May be we allow our selves the liberty of lethargy and then face the consequences. But a motivated system within ourselves is and does have overpowering effects.

I have enjoyed today. Hopefully I shall enjoy more of it later.

Sitting on promotional discussions has been a revelation. Marketing, planning and public relations through media, has now become as important if not more than, the making of the film. And I never realized that an entire industry thrives on these faculties. Its an era where if you do not speak about yourself, nobody listens. When nobody listens nobody cares. How much of an effect this mode of communication has influenced and taken over functioning that in my mind should occur on the merit of its own condition, is up for debate and severe discussion.

Market makers, agents, opinion motivated individuals, advertising gurus, media strategy initiators are having a field day. Where have all these enthusiastic young and learned men and women come from suddenly. Why have I not been able to spot them despite my continued presence. And how in hell have they become so savvy as to guide the fortunes of those who invite fortune ? I have no answers. I have only marvel. And this generation has got it all pat. We may be traditional, conservative and within ethical norms, but do we have the gall to express with results what this generation generates. No we do not. I certainly do not. Yet the system developed by these young impressarios is rapid understood and executed to perfection. We all succumb to their guile and technique. We take days and months to reveal how we need to cope with it. Not this young lot. They have the sincerity of their confidence and the casualness of no imminent strife. If not this then this. Move on !!

Living in and within these well studied and executed procedures has made us all redundant and ill. Ill not in the medical term, but ill in terms of the facts and their extreme successes. We from this past world need to put away our processes at least as far as this is concerned. Trying to battle it will and most certainly shall result in embarrassed defeat. Leave it alone. Toe the line. Acquire the benefits that come. Lie back and follow orders. Be in peace. For this is where this young, shall execute what they believe should be the norm.

Yes … I am delighted to be among change … and I do pray that I have the ability to restrain myself from thinking that all that is different is not always indifferent …

My love to you … among the thought .. that failure makes you a philosopher, success precariously hangs on its own disabilities … how to balance them makes me a man !!

Amitabh Bachchan

Work and you live. Do not and you wither in lethargy

Work and you live. Do not and you wither in lethargy

Jalsa , Mumbai          Apr  5 ,  2011      Tue  11 : 48 PM

Work and you live. Do not and you wither in lethargy. The wonderment from those that prescribe astonishment to this are not ignorant or deprived of any intelligence. They are simply deprived. Why would there be surprise and question on continuity. Continuity of labor and excesses of commitment. It has its value in those that live with it and in its upbringing. If it is absent by its non presence within you, do not cause blame to those that do. It came about not from any written decree or trained compulsive statute. It merely came. And it remained. And thank the Lord it just remained. What and how else does one ever attempt to determine, what they that are devoid of such thought, believe. If belief was theirs, so would have been the thought. I cannot manufacture thought. Many others do it in great professional attribute. Inborn, it excels in its presence as far as one is concerned. Try administering it and it shall fail or at least not be competent enough.

Suffice to say then, that your own perception and quality is what remains and what endures. Revel in it then. Spread it to its farthest, lie upon it, cover your conscience with it and rest under its warm dwelling. No other will have the slightest incline to unwrap its gifted paper, unfold the ornate box with predetermined gifts. It is but ours to do, to relish to observe and to delve into. To derive if you must, the pleasures that small beginnings erupt with.

It is not for us to do unto others. Others have their own ‘do’ to do. Build your own space and ship. Travel alone and in solitude. Think not of the consequence. Consequences shall be thinking of you. How you did it, why and wherefore the end. It is we that must know where the finish is. The ‘other’ is oblivious of the end and perhaps unaware of it as well. Who cares ! I did what was meant to be done. It may have complexity, uncertainty and regret. But it was done by one. Ha ha … ‘done by one’ … quite cool eh ??

Most of our universe has been done by one. Most conflict, affection, disgrace, attempt, ambition, success, failure … is done by one.

I am done for now .. it is mine that I have done - unasked, unaltered and unmitigated ..

Wish to ask ? Wish to express ? Do … no one questions, or puts barriers … know why ? because you did it as one !!

Love you ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Hearty Gudi Padwa greetings to all those that celebrate it in our State of Maharashtra BigB

Jalsa,  Mumbai     Apr  4/5,  2011     Mon/Tue  1 : 17 AM

Hearty Gudi Padwa greetings to all those that celebrate it in our State of Maharashtra. Wishes and prosperity for the festival of Ugadi to those that reside in Andhra and Karnataka. Happy Navreh Poshte to those from Kashmir and happy Navratra and new year according to the Hindu calendar for the year 2068 !!!

In this diverse and unique country, in this largest democracy of the world, in this land with almost 22 prominent languages and around 10 practicing and vibrant religions, we welcome the celebration of festival with equal fervor and dignity of all. May all your troubles be behind you, may there be the joy and enthusiasm of the fresh harvest, may the advent of the summer be of value - the poila baisakh - and may peace togetherness and love prevail ever !!

Some divine justice seems to have been working in the timing of all these events and religious sentiments. I am certain that in other parts of the world too there must be certain rituals for this time of the year. This homogenous attribute is the legacy of the human race, a race that was created to be one and to be together. But look how caste, creed, color, religion has distanced us from each other. Created boundaries that have remained insurmountable and divisions that have been the cause of painful separation. And look how desperately we seek each other to remain together and one, and on discovering our own attributes find that in the truest sense the distance was never too large to traverse, or the boundary too large to cross.

I marvel at the compassion that we bear towards each other here on this platform. I marvel at the concern, affection and care that we extend to those that have for the most part remained unknown elements. I marvel how individuals unknown become known. This is true comradeship and no, not in the communistic manner, but in its desire for holding and bearing for the other. This is remarkable and may it ever remain so !!!

The topic of discussion and comment has not diverted itself from the victory of the final game on the World Cup cricket. And though the streets are no longer jammed with enthusiastic revelry, the minds are. Many among the players that brought us glory express similar sentiment. It still has not sunk in. And really they have very little time on their hands for it to do so, for, in another couple of days all those that participated for their country, shall now be pushing their energies and allegiance to their respective teams in the IPL, about to start on the 8th of this month !! Those against the other shall now be playing for each other in the same team ! And shall be fighting with equal vigor and commitment for their side, as they did for the WC ! This is such a bizarre situation. How soon sentiments shall shift from national to personal teams representing different regions of the country. Rivals for the past month, team mates for the next !!

And the fans and the followers and the supporters. What of them ? How quickly they shall have to change their minds and thoughts too - rooting for those they wanted to win, now against them. Cricket is a funny business !!

I messaged Sachin and Harbhajan on their marvelous victory and true to their spirit they responded, as always. Abhishek and Aishwarya have been invited tonight to a celebration by Sachin. The joyous mood retains its vigor. God bless them, their effort and the effort of the entire team. And God bless India. 11 Indians have invigorated an entire nation of almost a billion and half, and perhaps in other parts of the world too with their dedication.

A prominent author and thinker on a public platform admitted that sport and film were the two most fertile ingredients in bringing a nation together. Nothing could be truer. They always were and shall always be, a unifier !

Love …

Amitabh Bachchan