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.

Rumours rife on Twitter about 'Beti B' being named Aaradhya

Rumours rife on Twitter about 'Beti B' being named Aaradhya

The newest entrant in the Bachchan family, nicknamed as Beti B, has send the media and fans into a tizzy following reports that she has been finally christened as 'Aaradhya'.

Fans on Twitter were abuzz with rumours about Bollywood star couple, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's daughter finally getting a name yesterday, after four months of her birth. But megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his family has neither officially confirmed nor denied it, keeping the guessing game on.

A user posted on Twitter, "Trending in India, other than the rail budget is #Aaradhya Bachchan. Yeah the kid got a name, finally."

"The Bachchans did well naming their daughter Aaradhya. With a 'aa' name she'll be on top of most alphabetical lists," said another user.

A joke went as, "2033 Breaking News: Karan Johar to launch Azad Rao Khan and Aaradhya Bachchan as lead pair in 'Oi Tweetiye!'. Music by debutant Alim Rahman."

"What will Aaradhya learn first -- KBC or ABC?," another said.

Ever since the reports of Aishwarya's pregnancy came out, gossip mongers were engaged in all sorts of guess works on whether it would be a boy or a girl for the Bachchan family.

Then after Aishwarya delivered a baby girl, there were talks of photos of little one getting leaked online.

Also, grapevine said that American talk show host Oprah Winfrey would reveal the picture and name on the daughter on her talk show. Later, various names like Aaliya and Abhilasha started doing the rounds following which father Abhishek Bachchan recently confirmed that they have zeroed in on a name for their daughter.

Abhishek had clarified that the baby girl was not named Aaliya and that the picture of his daughter would not be 'revealed'. And that one can catch a glimpse of her when she naturally begins to go out.

According to him, releasing a picture of his daughter and making it an event is rather a pompous thing to do.

Earlier, when superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek had held a press conference after the baby girl was born, they had said, "There would be no naming ceremony for the baby, as the families don't believe in naamkaran."

The Bachchans have been fiercely protective of the latest member of the family ever since Aishwarya gave birth to a girl on November 16 last year.

Haunting lines from Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Jalsa , Mumbai             Mar 14 , 2012           Wed  11 : 45 PM

  

" Beware the ides of March"

" The ides of March have come "

" Aye Caesar, but not gone " !!

 

Haunting lines from Julius Caesar by Shakespeare .. remembered every time the 15th day of March approaches ..

The impact of great writing remains with us, the weak and the decrepit dissolve, never to be remembered. Why does it happen, one has not been able to find a scientific solution, but they do. The impact of its existence was perhaps because the modes of communication were never as acute as they be today. Perhaps the oft repeated, loses value and presence and if I may say, patience. Are we then in our need and desire for rapid information and far greater speed of rendering it, destroying value …

But surely value would be recognized if valued it was. Is the need to be able to depend so largely on Google as our encyclopedic mind robbing us of something larger. Do we have the time and intent to give space to what we feel transpires in our lives. Is the present need important enough for us to ignore what should be given greater value. I cannot say. I am not this generation. And if I did show concern would it be a laughing matter. I cannot say this either. People and purists ask often if we are fast losing our values and ages old culture. I honestly cannot say. What may seem debasing to me, could be the highest point in another's life. And it is quite probable that I shall find myself in minority here. Debased minority is an area of confusion in today's times – it may never have voice. Or not enough voice to withstand the majority that enjoys what we may think to be debasing. Majority succeeds in all modes of life. Once painted with success, it would be nigh impossible to taint it – if we were to take an extreme step. But we dare not ! Its consequences would be far too severe to bear. So, one languishes in minority and dissatisfaction ..

 

We spoke of religion the other day on this platform, and a dear friend made some very pertinent remarks. I have sought permission to put it up here, and while it takes time for that to come I cannot but resist the temptation of posting the thoughts here tonight. I hope and pray that they shall not mind its presence, even though it was meant for me in a personal capacity .

 

"Equally, there is much of value, as you say, in religious texts. But not wholly so. Most religions and their texts have perpetuated the injustices of their birth: the prejudices, vagaries of diet – the general peculiarities of their writers – and chaotic historical incident of their times. The iniquity and cruelty of caste, misogyny, slavery, violence, domination – all these things are there too in these texts."

"The point is that everything is in the texts. Both good and bad. We have absolutely no choice but to read them embodied in our own selves, with compassion, generosity, critical judgement and condemnation. That is wisdom, the realisation that wisdom cannot ultimately be lent, borrowed, given, taken from others. The wisdom of others is the greatest blessing we have in the world, that it can act as partial guide to our own singular pursuit. But ultimately it is singular: we must strive for it alone, we can only search for it alone, and then we cannot hope that it will be there ever to be found. It is simply the striving and searching, without hope of its gain, that is our life's pursuit, and one of solitude. Your father's striving for wisdom will bring great guidance, but his striving for wisdom and yours must be, by the very nature of our singularity as human beings, forever separate and different."

"How we eke out our lives in solitude and uncertainty, stumbling with reading between the lines, for all things, all names, are shorthand for what we cannot know. Your father's words are shorthand for the unknowable world inside of him. As are dreams, whereupon one might then see that all our shorthands are in the end only read well by ourselves, not by others – and even for ourselves, who knows what they mean? Consulting Freud in order to interpret our own dreams may be interesting for historical and cultural reasons, but it is nothing beyond someone else's suppositions over yours, Amitabh. One makes one's own meanings: when you consider your dreams, only then do they mean."

 

Simply wonderful and written with such depth and truth .. I loved the 'singularity pursuit', for in the end of it all we are but singular. I also liked the concept of the 'shorthand' .. it was such a novel way of portraying that which we may never ever know or feel or observe. There is a meeting point in the singular and the shorthand .. but put out with novelty of expression ..

I leave you to dwell on all this, with love ..

Good night …

Amitabh Bachchan