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

What a day ! Yesterday !! What a moment !

Jalsa, Mumbai    Apr  3,  2011      Sun 10 : 29 PM

What a day ! Yesterday !! What a moment ! The spirits and the excitement and the out pouring of emotion and love and ecstasy ! 11 men in blue wearing the National colors, chasing a white round object and whacking it around a boundaried periphery brought an entire nation to a stop !

Yesterday, that age old superstitious finicky belief, that if I were to watch a game it would result disfavor ably for us, broken and shattered for good I would imagine. Yes, I did not see the Indo-Pak, I did not see the Indo-Aus, and for most of the time resisted this final too. But I have no idea what prompted me to switch the game on after we were 33 for 2 and tottering. And when Dhoni smacked that six for victory, it smacked my superstition too out of my life !!

I guess some memories of the past tend to haunt you throughout your life. I was in England at the Lords Cricket ground for a test series between India and England around the late 70’s or early 80’s and personally witnessed a humiliating defeat. The English team bowled us all out for a measly 48 runs ! This was a Test series. Driving out of the grounds I can never forget the bus full of British fans ahead of us, mostly school kids, taunting us with the vilest of abuses and gestures. That visual has remained with me in all its embarrassment. I would never like to see our team in such a condition again. No one would, from any country, that has a passion for the game and its nation. Each country that lost those crucial games - England, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka - at the World Cup 2011 will feel terrible. I am an Indian and felt the same at our loss. It is a game yes ! But its also national pride. And when that gets hurt, it is beyond repair. There is that something that connects you deeper than any other feeling.

I was in the Hockey Stadium at the Asian Games of 1982 in Delhi when Pakistan gave us a thrashing, 7-1 defeat ! I did not know where to look after the game was over. I was in the Stadium when India beat Brazil in a Davis Cup tie in Kolkata during the late 60’s, that great game played by our hero Ramanathan Krishnan and know what it feels like to be a part of a nation that wins and becomes victorious. I was in Dubai during the World Cup Football some years ago while shooting for ‘Boom’ and in a coffee bar filled with British fans, watching the game between Brazil and England. And when Brazil won, saw the ladies of England break down and cry uncontrollably. A similar embarrassment prevailed when I was at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1982, watching the hockey game between India and a rival team, which we lost. The shock and embarrassment becoming even more pronounced due to some other unmentionable factors too.

And so yes … when that last six was sent into the stands by Dhoni against SriLanka at the final yesterday for World Cup victory, I was out on the streets ! Abhishek Aishwarya and I got into the car, opened up the sun roof, climbed up on the roof, did some precarious driving and waving the Indian tricolor, joined the screaming and the joy of the millions that were out there along with us. I have never seen anything like this before. I had never done anything like this before. Well …. may be at another Tennis Davis Cup venture when India played USA in Delhi at the National Stadium courts, the courts where I was a member of the RajKumari Amrit Kaur Coaching Scheme, yes I trained at the national level for some time in Tennis before joining college, when I was in the University and a whole bunch of us had smuggled our way through to the stands - we never had the money to buy tickets - and shouted and screamed ourselves hoarse when we beat them !

It was such a great release almost, of all pent up emotions. Not just for me but for all those that were on every possible mode of transport, driving aimlessly and screaming, flag held high. No one said anything on the roads. There were no words being exchanged. It was just a roar of emotion and that one sound …. INDIA !!!

I cannot imagine another moment in my living memory when we saw the country in such spirits. Perhaps the Independence of the country ! But then that was a different matter !

This moment and this day shall remain etched forever in our thoughts !

Defeats and victories have been an integral part of the psyche of mankind from the day the universe was created. The desire to compete, to win over the other, to prove who is the stronger, the faster, the higher, the more accomplished has been a human phenomena, a phenomena that was installed within us by the maker, or for those that do not believe in makers, by nature ! Most of mankind’s issues have been governed by the tenets of this psyche.

Difference ….

That is the root. I am different from you. I speak differently, look different, have different belief, live in different circumstances, have different ideas and thoughts …. difference !!

All our lives we live with this stigma. And spend all our lives in trying to defeat it. And how wonderful then, when we find ourselves on a platform that signifies and exemplifies that one true spirit, that we are family and are one. Extended albeit, yet family, and one …

Love and with the blessings of all  ~

Amitabh Bachchan