Fare Well ‘Citizen Mukherjee’

India’s political and economic destiny would have significantly altered during the UPA-I and UPA-II tenure had the High Command would have weighed and zeroed on appointing Shri Pranab Mukherjee as its Prime Ministerial candidate. History can never be repeated. In Pranab Mukherjee, fondly called Pranab-Da in a significant career spanning over more than four decades, lied a statesman par excellence and legal cum political acumen playing an important role in contributing significantly to India’s economic destiny as well as the guardian of the Indian constitution as Head of State following diverse roles as Finance, Defence and Commerce Ministry among a host of 10 portfolios held and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.

The 13th President of the Indian Republic, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Member in his autobiography The Coalition Years mentions the Economic Reforms ushered in the 90s and following which PV Narsimha Rao lost the election as Congress PM. He remarked on the extent to which the major reforms impacted the Indian elite and the benefits were yet trickling to the masses.

As Finance Minister during the Indira Gandhi era, Pranab-da ushered into a slew of economic reforms and the year was 2004 when Congress leading the UPA-I may have thought about him as PM candidate and in 2009 the thought again crossed Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the event Dr. Manmohan Singh could serve as President. The observations are revealing on the role Pranab Mukherjee could have played in India. Of course, during UPA-I, he refused the Finance portfolio in favor of the External Affairs Ministry. On the day of swearing-in, Mukherjee was told that he would be handling the Defense ministry, he remarks in the book.

As an important member of the then UPA-I Government, he played an immense role in chartering India’s path and one among which is the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement which we read in newspapers grabbing eyeballs in 2008 was passing the floor test remained the real deal. Many experts give credit rightfully to Dr. Manmohan Singh whose biggest gamble paid off. Very few knew Pranab-Da’s role was an instrumental role stitching alliance saving the Government from collapse and we all know the Left and Shiv Sena, known to be a natural BJP ally offered unconditional support at that time. In the biography, he offers a rare insight into his conversation with Condoleezza Rice the US State Secretary.

Right from chairing more than 100 groups of ministers to prepare a draft road map for the 90s economic reforms,  anti-corruption ombudsman, to the stimulus package of 2008 playing a significant to guard against economic bankruptcy and signing WTO Trade Agreements, the achievements are many in his rich career as a politician, Minister and Head of State shaping a modern India.

The 26/11 terrorist attack finds a place in Pranab Mukherjee biography and in his own words, “do not believe in romanticizing relations or indulging in any sort of adventurism, but there is a limit to one’s patience. We are truly concerned” during a conversation with foreign leaders. He mentions speaking to 100 foreign ministers across countries which were a mammoth task and presaging on the strong role he played for the Government at that time. Of course, there were ideological differences on one hand, between the socialist Pranab Da and the other between Chidambaram and PM-designate at that time Dr. Manmohan Singh. But, one thing that stood out in his book excerpt about explaining in the simplest manner about how the DTAA work out inferring to amendments taking place in the IT Act. He explains the need for Tax certainty in the better interest of India as a country and the right to tax business on similar transactions across jurisdictions.

Dr. Singh as PM had reservations on amendments impacting FDI while for Pranab Mukherjee it was about in India being a ‘no tax or low tax nation’ where all taxpayers, residents, or nonresidents are treated on parity. It works like that under the country law on tax paid in one country and there is no need to pay in another country where transactions take place under DTAA. As simple as it gets. The logic goes that tax must be paid and ringing in accountability.

As India’s former President breathed his last, one wonders what India would have been without his contribution, the legal acumen, and ability to nurture relationships across the broader political spectrum, the astute mind, and from President, to Citizen Mukherjee, he had so much to offer. And, to think Sonia Gandhi refused that he be made President in 2009 for fear of losing a captain in the ship. It says a lot about the role he played in the UPA Government. In one of his interviews on NDTV after his tenure as Head of State, he discussed lynching giving a bad name to the core Indian, secular values distinctively as a tolerant nation. I think it speaks a lot about the Indian values and albeit, the constitution. Trust him to be honest when he unequivocally speaks that secularism cannot be partitioned by speaking about only one side but not the other. We can disagree with him but one thing that cannot be denied is his ability to speak fearlessly.

The achievements are incredible. The ‘soft reformer’ defined by the media was the architect behind a slew of reforms such as administrative reforms, Right to Information, Right to Employment, IT, setting up of UIDAI, and Metro Rail chairing 85 Ministerial Groups as per Hindustan Times. The Right to Information is something very dear to me and playing a huge role as we speak about freedom and the right for citizens to know boosting accountability. So many times, we take our rights for granted and forgetting about the forbearer where we call to fill an RTI to know about our rights. Pranab Da or what he called himself post Presidency ‘Citizen Mukherjee’ steered such reforms together with decisions setting up rural banks, EXIM Bank of India, and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Five times Rajya Sabha and twice Lok Sabha Member, Shri Pranab Mukherjee was held in awe and respect by his Opponents such as the ruling BJP and PM Modi with whom he served as Head of State. The former testified how President Pranab offered sound advice to the new PM and the freshly elected Government in place during 2014. Many are regaled tales by journalists how they were chided by Pranab-Da in his entire political career for a wrong move but at the same time, it’s a huge learning and rigorous training by interacting with this wealth of knowledge.

Perhaps, one of my biggest regret as a young scribe is when I missed interacting with him in the country I was based during his State Visit. I didn’t push so hard to interview Pranab Mukherjee since was unaware he was someone that warms up to interaction and a lost opportunity

Statesman and the bonhomie lacking in today’s politics, India’s former President knew how to cultivate relationships armed with a rare finesse makes him count among the few in Indian politics respecting the decorum and values at a time where discourse is sinking lower. Pranab-Da was always called the referee in the Congress Party and playing a significant contribution in Modern India as well as posing as the last Mohican for his party. It’s doesn’t go without saying that as Head of State he upheld our constitutional values with this ability to make the Rashtrapathi Bhavan accessible to the commoner by discouraging people to address him as His Excellency. The PM that never was and making for palatable tales studying Pranab Ji’s career milestones by history, political and journalism students.

Fare Well Citizen Mukherjee.

Love and Respect

V

Youth icon Sushant Singh Rajput taught us invaluable lessons in last journey

 

A death that ripped the heart apart with the force of a bullet. Many like him considered outsiders or from small towns come to strike gold but very few hit the bull’s eye. Sushant Singh Rajput did through the dint of hard work, dedication, and honesty where he has been an inspiration to so many. Not everyone in the telly industry, still considered as a poor cousin of cinema, create an identity, landing fame and success.

The boy next door exuding down-to-earth and boyish charm, infectious smile, easy-going gaze combined with a composure made him an instant hit and ability to connect with fans. Dreams were baked. I remember watching him on Comedy Nights with Kapil when he came with Parineeta and Vaani, promoting Shuddh Desi Romance, and did an act seducing the former for a movie date. The scene was refreshing and saw the instant connection with the young generation. There was a relatable and natural sincerity exuding freshness. I loved him in the film lending a subtle, subdued but endearingly honest performance. Detective Byomkesh Bakshi is another underrated film where Sushant plays the character giving shades of subtlety and passion and deeply layered performance. Sadly, this was a Sushant performance that was underrated pretty much like the film that should count as among his finest performances.

I remember watching M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story in the theater that can be and should be ranked as a power-packed Sushant Singh Rajput performance and would be an understatement to call it superlative. A bigger star or superstar of the Illuminatis rank would have played to the gallery, donning the routine rhetoric but Sushant showed the difference between a star and an actor.

He was everything Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the mannerism, body language, walk and gaze on the cricket field. Sushant transformed completely into India’s cricket icon winning him hearts and that film should have earned him lucrative projects as an actor. One could see MS Dhoni and not Sushant Singh Rajput. Sadly, the A-listers producers and directors were missing when he churned superhits after superhits that should make a beeline in front of his door pushing us to question the ‘closed industry’ it has become.

There was something very real about him as an actor and showing in his various role portrayals on screen, for instance, in Chichhore playing two vastly different roles clicking with the audience, as a carefree hostel student and a mature man coming to terms with his son attempting to end life. The scenes and bonding with the son were poignantly, touching every chord with the audience in this awe-inspiring transformation as an actor. No shouting over the top or classic yelling but a calm composure.

Sushant Singh Rajput was a name that inspired so many people in making the big leap from TV to the big screen. He was quite a success in the 10 films, donning versatile roles winning the hearts of both critics and box office. So many telly and inspiring actors found in this success story a role model through this small town boy hailing from Patna to winning hearts on the small and silver screens. Perhaps, the most gut-wrenching confession was when he nearly broke down speaking about struggles at an award function and telling a fan during a social media exchange to watch his films. It speaks a lot about what he was going through as an actor with hearts full of dreams and expectations.

Perhaps he didn’t fit the mold of B-Town of simply liking and retweeting fans comment by direct engagement on social media, something that makes his so real. The term ‘misfit’ that many don’t like and he had the rare knack of moving ahead whether it’s serials or breaking free from a leading production house, armed with the conviction that there is more for him to explore as an actor rather than adhering to rules. A story that came to an end and opening the can of worms that we may all have heard about. The biggest tragedy is a young dream lost so early where the Omerta code rules everything and seen as an outsider, derided by the gossip mongers. It’s heartbreaking to see a youth icon dealt severely with pain and perhaps an ingrained fear that he will come to sit on the perched crown. Something is terribly wrong in a system lacking the democratic setup and nurturing talent means pandering to the inner circle.

Sushant Singh Rajput played effortlessly the quintessential lover boy and striking a chord with the young generation, speaking about relationships in Shuddh Desi Romance. A special and relatable act in PK was such an endearing act as Sarfaraz, not playing too hard but effortless is how I remember Sushant as an actor. It’s never easy to break the ceiling to carve a name on his own and without a Godfather, his biggest achievement in my view. We shall miss the dude with tons of swag and incredible talent that in his way redefined success and was looked with awe in making it big.

Sadly, the biggest tragedy on he was alone, lacking the support perhaps and fighting depression for so long or cut off from projects. The worst part is we live in a shallow eco-system where everything is quantified in terms of money, not relationships. The insightful posts he penned on Instagram or poems shall remain and the cherished roles. Very few are the artists and stars, not adhering to this star system and putting their vulnerability to the fore, the love for his mother that he expressed a multitude times. For me, it’s purity and strength. Perhaps, they didn’t deserve Sushant Singh Rajput who in a short span of time earned people’s affection that many couldn’t and taught us something invaluable about mental health. Let’s address it. Khairiyat Pucho!

Love

V

Rishi Kapoor: Chocolate hero, lover and legend lives forever

I wasn’t even born when Bobby was released. The pandemonia created by the eternal and quintessential lover boy was witnessed by many in what emerged as the cult film. There was no looking back, despite being the son of the greatest showman Raj Kapoor, he went on to create his own identity as an actor.

 

I remember someone telling me during his student days post the release of Bobby, everyone was going gaga to visit Hotel Highland Park, Room No.305 in Gulmarg in Kashmir during a college outing to tell the frenzy surrounding the shooting of the song Hum Tum ek kamre mein band hai.

The Rishi Kapoor I discovered was while growing in the 90s the time he was still actively playing the lover boy and an endearing star, making acting such an easy job. The effortless smile, the easy-going charm is what makes Rishi Kapoor, the ever-lasting romantic hero of all times. Such was his power and aura as an actor that he didn’t need to shout over the rooftop. One of the rare actors who never overreacted and much before Shah Rukh Khan’s signature move we all drooled over, Chintu Sir serenading his heroines. Picture this song with Poonam Dhillon in Yeh Vaada Raha with his hands crossed at the chest level, clapping in style and romancing the pillar, Tu tu Hain Wahin. One of my favorite Rishi Sir’s songs and can watch a thousand times for he makes it effortless with his traditional trademark, infectious smile, exuberance, naughtiness and innocence. One can’t stop drool and rave over Rishi Kapoor.

The 90s was and stormed by the Khans, a new and fresh generation of actors. And to think, Rishi Kapoor was churning superhits after superhits with actors like Divya Bharti, Pooja Bhatt, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon and Manisha Koirala in movies like Bol Radha Bol, Deewana, Heena, or Prem Granth and despite the age difference, he made palatable chemistry simply because he was such a natural actor and injecting passion, intensity in his performances. He was never conscious on screen and that was his biggest strength. In the era, Damini, Bol Radha Bol, Deewana, Gurudev and Heena remained some of my favorites. Of course, in the late 80s, Chandni despite being an all Sridevi fest, Rishi Kapoor stood his own and delivered a performance remembered for long, together with Nagina and Vijay.

As royal as he was on screen, Rishi Kapoor was bigger and colorful in his interviews and on Twitter. There are few people who are as candid as he was on social media and whether we agree with him or not, the honesty in his tweets and TV interview spoke directly to the audience. I read and reviewed his book, a perfect read truly Khullam Khulla, with secrets laid bare open. There is no holding back with Rishi Kapoor, the honesty, humor and entertaining everyone in jest with jokes is something we will sorely miss. For sure he made many enemies but can be called as eccentric by many, and refreshing to see someone as brutally honest while airing his views on any issue. That what makes him Rishi Kapoor so distinct and real as an actor. People love such avatar, real and no sugar candy, unlike his first inning.

So much to speak about Rishi Kapoor and painful to speak about him in the past. One star who clicked with me and the effervescence, bubbly and super confident about himself as an actor. He entered cinema the time when Amitabh Bachchan was the reigning King and angry young man but went ahead to create milestones as the chocolate hero, next door image and romantic star thriving in an era of action films. The everlasting hero and there was not, will not and can never be anyone bigger than him in romance. The scene when he says, Chandni to Sridevi, as a friend commented on my post today, making everyone going weak on the knee, or gyrating to Om Shanti Om. That was the power of Rishi Kapoor, the phenomenon.

A fantastic a second innings and he gave the younger generation a momentary glimpse of the eternal lover boy he was in Do Dooni Char and Hum Tum. Of course, Rauf Lala in Agneepath and playing Dawood in D Day blew the mind. Hard to believe it was the same man playing with elan romantic hero and donning a different hat, with the raw intensity. He made the roles extremely easy and pushed himself. Gravita was not him, probably he underplayed in a way yet emerged victorious. Like in real life, there was no pretense and probably that how he aced his part.

A plump and cherubic teenager playing a younger version of Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker and infatuated with her teacher, the vivacious Simi Garewal. As we look back at this classic and one of the showman’s career best, the boy left a marked presence in the film and of course, Bobby belonging to the heroine but marked the birth of a phenomenon. There were many films that were underplayed like Rafoo Chakkar, Prem Rog, and Sargam for that matter must be watched time and again, together with Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony and Coolie with Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna. He stood his ground and breaking away from the rich Kapoor histrionics of Prithiviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor to emerge as the last Mohican.  An artist is never shy of experimenting and he did incredible roles be it in Kapoor & sons, Luck by Chance, 102 Not Out, SOTY, Agneepath or Do Dhooni Char.

Extremely tough to pick a favorite film or films of Rishi Kapoor for irrespective of the box office fate, the performance always stood out, simple, effervescent and striking like lightning. I find it hard to fathom that Rishi Kapoor is no more and watching an old interview on NDTV, the feeling to sink in is hard. Perhaps, celebrating the man who kept everyone in splits and leaving such a rich legacy. You just can’t stop smiling or remaining unaffected watching his interview or films. A phenomenon, legend and unpredictable. What you make of Rishi Kapoor? Honesty like nobody could. Look at fate, the day he died, Damini celebrated 27 years of release. The saddest thing is we lost another cancer survivor!

You shall be missed Sir, forever.

 

Irrfan Khan: Extraordinary tale of an accomplished artist

The year was 2006 when content-driven, meaningful cinema and OTT didn’t enter our psyche when I watched Irrfan Khan for the first time on the big screen. The film was Mira Nair’s The Namesake about migrant Indians, settling in the US and beautifully tapping into resettlement, migrants and human identity, the recreation of a celebrated book on-screen.

Image credit: Google.

Single screen in those days and the theater was Eros nestled in South Bombay at Churchgate. Ashok, the main character was immortalized in the film and the Gogol metaphor, beautifully executed by Mira Nair and exploring the intense father-son equation. In the end, Ashok gains the upper hand and the poignant message executed by the actor. Rare are such actors. He was the Shashi Kapoor, the Amol Palekar and the Sanjiv Kumar of today’s times, the people’s actor, the common man on the street with flaws and vulnerabilities. Life in a Metro followed and his equation with Konkona Sen, as the bizarre and out of the place man came to the fore and utmost difficult to make a distinction between the character and the actor Irrfan. For one moment, I really thought he was bizarre in real life and the climax scene mounting the horse to spoil the wedding of Konkona won the heart. The audience taalis and seethis echoes what an impact this hilarious scene had and one of the most telling scenes is when he tells the heroine in Hindi, this city takes more than they give to us. How true about Mumbai!

The Avant gardist actor has just started to win the audience and a man with unconventional looks made the cut. He was not an angry young man nor The chocolate hero. Far from that, the man encountered on the road, in trains, at the chaiwallah and the office. Experimental cinema, he belongs to the brigade of artists heralding the change and today we are seeing the results on OTT platforms. Meaningful or art cinemas were just words and as idealistic as it seemed in those days and matter of intense debate, we owe it to the man who took on great stride and immense risks as an artist to experiment The gamble has paid. While we may have the digital media to thank and the various platforms, truth is that we owe it to a certain extent to Irrfan Sir. The examples are countless, Paan Singh Tomar, The Lunch Box, Life of a Pi, Hindi Medium, Karwaaan, Maqbool. Piku or a Madaari.

The impactful role he played as an actor and the saddest thing is that as an actor, he could have and would have contributed so much to his craft and the usual gaze and innocence in lines done in an effortless manner. Just think of this scene in Piku, “Yeh koi Calcutta jaane ka program nahin hai, yeh baap-beti aise hi time pass kar rahe hai.” There is frustration but a certain joy or naughtiness in pathos. The irony is the change-maker would not be able to be part of the digital or OTT platform, something I so wanted to see him experimenting and convinced he would nail those genres with his sheer prowess.

A loss that felt so personal for hordes of admirers, fans and friends makes me wonder how he would feel alive to see so much love pouring on him. It can’t be a bigger testimony of the hard work, perseverance and legacy he is leaving behind. There may be no one to fill in those shoes and the affable man reflects in his various media outings often describing him as a man of few words. The expression of art and the artist’s craft, the philosopher in his last message on life giving lemons to make lemonade. Pretty much like the roles he played on screen and a fighter till death.

One of my favorite ads was the Hutch on Kabootar mehenga Hoga with 10 rupees recharge and had such a mass connect with the viewers that came in 2007. Very rare to see such an actor walking the stage effortlessly and power-packed performances in a simple and effective manner. One of his last movies I saw on screen was Kareeb Kareeb Single immortalizing Yogi-Ji and we could see the romantic side in him. He was an entire package for his audience and never once, there was disappointment. Scripts could fail but never the actor, the humor injected in the streak of personalities, at times split, in an acting method where theater meets cinema.

It’s very tough to pick a single Irffan performance, whether PST, The Lunch Box, Life of a Pi, Life in a Metro, Piku, The Namesake, Hindi Medium or Kareeb Kareeb Single for each of the characters were carefully nurtured. My favorites would be PST and The Namesake. Extremely hard to fathom that the man is no more and his dialogues ring in the mind where tragedy is perhaps bringing a smile on the face.  The loss is personal for the role he played and a big thank you to this man for bringing the raw and the real on-screen. Such men don’t need the epithet or tags of superstars, one-man industry or 100 crores.

At a time where Hindi cinema actors are speaking about doing roles in Hollywood, Irrfan Khan has been India’s true global ambassador in tapping continents from UK, US and Japanese films. An Indian artist who made the country and the film industry proud, yet there has never been the slightest arrogance.

Take a bow Irrfan Sir for bringing real cinema back and thanks won’t suffice for your immense contribution in such a short span of time. Celebrate his life and not death.

Love

V

 

Groove it like Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is a religion and the Greek God reigning supreme at the box office and acting throne. He is beyond numbers and cutting across generations. October 11 is a festival for Bachchan fans and dialogues capturing the hearts, souls and minds reverberating throughout, “Hum Bhi woh hai jo kissi ke peeche nahin khade hota hai…jahan hum Khade hai line wohi se shuru hota hai” and the iconic, “Rishtey mein hum tumhare Baap Lagte hai Naam Hai Shahenshah” taking a nation by storm.

 

Bachchan in a still from Yash Chopra’s Deewar. Image taken from Google India.

The years of yore where Amitabh Bachchan was the One man industry and scripts written taken his persona into account, making it a fest of thoughts capturing the imagination.  What makes Bachchan endearing after several years of enthralling hearts and tapping the pulses of Indians across the globe is the down-to-earth approach of not only turning acting into fine art but gently stroking every human as the common hero wearing vulnerability on his sleeve.

Every October 11, I spend the day doing nothing and watching his films, recreating those moments where today re-discovered Satte Pe Satta and Cheeni Kum. The Bachchan memories and the dialogues, signature dance moves and kicks give a shiver down the spine. The hero worship nurtured over the years and Bachchan is one of the reasons I am such a die-hard passionate fan of cinema, in the role he played in my life, inspiring me when everything goes for a toss. I simply grew up on his films and lapping everything Bachchan, going back to his movies when I wasn’t even born, the time he took a break from cinema, discovering classics like Zanjeer, Deewar, Don, Sharabi, Sholay and Agneepath or Shahenshah are films watched dozen times.

Bachchan rose like a Phoenix, the time when Emergency was declared in India and the hero that would rose against the system, the commoner giving reason to believe in the age of rebellion, giving birth to the angry young man. He was the Marxist hero and giving people a reason to dream in an economic system of revolution, angst and rebellion age, someone to identify with to make the wrongs right.

I have an amazing collection of his posters, newspapers cutting and postcards so much that I mouthed the favorite dialogues in front of the mirror. In the college days in Pune, I mouthed one of his dialogues at our hang out, Kimaya in front of a crowd and drunk on his star power that friends started calling me Bachchan in college. I earned this sobriquet. No one ever called me Vishal. My number was saved as Bachchan on handsets. This name was christened by a friend who passed away. Amitabh Bachchan has had such a growing influence on my life and heartbeat pumping at the mention of the superstar so much that the moment I heard he was shooting for Viruddh in Pune, all hell broke loose and became restless to get a sight of his, skipping lectures.

Credit: Amitabh Bachchan/Getty images.

Unfortunately, couldn’t see him and waited in the scorching sea for an entire day among the bustling crowd. No sign of the superstar. It’s another story that I was able to shake his hand as a kid when he was shooting for Hum and once met him briefly, gave him a birthday card at an event. The crazy things that I do as a die-hard Bachchan fan.

Fans are irrational beings and defying all human logic.  One could see him in us and making our dreams come true on celluloid. Cinema has always been Amitabh Bachchan for me, the man who creates pandemonium in the hearts of zillions. The Bachchan era brought immense happiness where every movie was celebrated and even the bad movies were justified for he is Amitabh Bachchan, the towering screen presence and baritone voice giving hope to millions, where no dream was left untouched and he cannot go wrong. Such was the sheer magic!

The kind of energy he shows at this age sometimes puts me to shame. Like I said earlier when limit dawns upon me, the first thought crossing my head is if Amit Ji can do it at this age, why can’t I? I remember during the acute depression phase, I reached out to a friend who is a therapist and she gave the example of Amitabh Bachchan, saying just imagine you are performing on the stage and Amitabh Bachchan is sitting to watch you. You are tensed and your body language is limited. Imagine you are Bachchan watching yourself and what advice would give to the self, on the wrongs and set to improve.

As a patient, I was reluctant but the moment Gayu put me in the shoes of AB, my attitude changed and became more open to growing as a person. Such is the Bachchan aura and working like magic on the brain. One moment I will always cherish and the role played by the favorite superstar in my life.

There is a Bachchan in each one of us fans and depends on the twist, defining this enigma in our lives, making him good, sensitive, good, bad or evil conquering demons to make us stay alive. Movies will always be Amitabh Bachchan and the man making us dream cinema and entertainment, imagination to be him, dressed in his style or getting a speck in his style or modeling my hair after him. My crazy confessions, right! He was the middle-class hero and common hero, after whom women never run or the hysteric female following. No wonder, many of us identify with him after so many years on how to emerge victorious, conquering the odds to stand tall. Don’t we say Groove like Bachchan!

Image credit: Amitabh Bachchan/Instagram

Amitabh Bachchan’s movies are a celebration of life. I still get goosebumps watching a new release, waiting in anticipation and with bated breath where one can’t dare to afford missing any single movie, the royalty he injects in performances. The heydays may be over but the aura and star power have stayed intact, untouched by the power of social media or OTT viewing. The relatability factor makes him stay relevant in today’s life where cinema is shaped by digital media and career choices to trust new and young directors, exploring new subjects as an actor. It’s something that we should learn from him and the constant reinvention to be on top of his game.

I would love to see him being part of OTT and he hit the small screen with Yudh in the past that may have missed the bull’s eye but would be a mistake staying away from the big thing like Netflix, Zee 5 or Prime. Bachchan defied gravity time and again by rising like the Phoenix after successive backs, right from resurrecting himself post the ABCL debacle and huge debts. It’s a huge lesson to corporates and B schools on how to turn failure into success. Amitabh Bachchan is human. He made the wrong choices but stopped, took a breath, before taking one step at a time, which is a huge lesson for all of us.

Stars may come and go. It’s a mistake comparing to the established stars for Amitabh Bachchan belongs to an era that can never be emulated. He is beyond comparison and how much we may well choose to ignore his achievements and phenomenal star power, the sheer madness of standing in a queue, seethis and taalis flung on screen. Nobody can ever match his steps or his shoes too big to be filled.

 

Happy birthday Amitabh Bachchan Sir

V

Mumbai26/11: Straddling fearlessly in a decade of wound

Blood,

losses,

a moment of madness,

spreading fear to destroy,

lives and our city!

a stain,

footprints of fear,

straddling ahead,

showing no remorse,

humans cannot claim innocent lives,

only ghouls can,

we stood speechless and powerless that day,

anger at the collapse of infrastructure,

they were coming for us,

to crush us under their mighty feet,

arms and explosives blowing us into smithereens,

wailing of babies,

cry of distress,

to save lives,

our city wouldn’t be confined to ruins,

for someone to say,

once stood civilization,

called Bombay or Mumbai,

dear terrorist,

you can never destroy us,

for our city is made of people with a heart,

coming from different parts of India and the world,

we stand together like a rock,

taking giant stride,

cry of anguish,

gunshots,

under siege,

real heroes rose,

as one people,

to wrestle our nation,

maximum city from forces of evil,

lives sacrificed,

blood knew no price,

on the day,

the city wore bruises and wounds,

soul attacked,

spirit cannot be vanquished,

for we triumphed against forces of terror,

our undying spirit won time and again,

spreading our might,

flapping our wings,

the enemy lost,

terror can never win,

remembering our soldiers,

Karmayogi,

marching towards victory,

our Mumbai,

deserves guns of salute,

we shall never compromise,

cow down to fear,

leaping on our feet,

hitting incredible speed,

everyone is a hero,

united in sorrow and happiness,

let the foes come,

we wait for you with bated breath,

our weapon is unity,

unfazed by divisive force,

Our Mumbai, our Pride

A decade may not be enough to heal us,

but we shall keep walking,

remember we got the pace,

survival is in our DNA.

#MumbaiTerrorAttacks

26/11

Love

V

 

 

 

 

Tribute Shri AB Vajpayee: The leader who united a nation even in death

They don’t make leaders like Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and such men are rare to come. People of the caliber of India’s former and one of the most loved PM walk the earth once in a lifetime. He is a Yug Purush. I will never subscribe to the BJP political ideology but India’s former PM was someone I will always hold in high esteem.  He has been an inspiring man who taught humility in a highly accomplished public life and truly defined Rajdharma.

 

I was watching an old video footage today when at the peak of his popularity, his supporters shouted during the campaign trail, ‘Hamare neta kaisa hai AB Vajpayee jaisa” (We want our leader to be like AB Vajpayee).  It says a lot about the respect, aura, charisma, impeccable integrity, trust and humanely moderate approach to politics and life, despite hailing from the Sangh Parivaar. The kind of mass connect the gentle Prime Minister enjoyed with followers and a popularity looming larger than life and that of his own party speaks volume of his conciliatory approach to politics, cultivating relations and governance.

The year was the late 90s, in 1998 that I started showing a keen interest in politics and international affairs to become attuned with Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee as PM. He commanded a huge amount of respect and recall that while I couldn’t afford buying expensive magazines post my 10th standard, buying an India Today was a rare treat and some foreign affairs magazines borrowed for free at the US embassy to learn about international geopolitics. The dates became a landmark, from May 11-13 where India created history by launching five nuclear tests, popularly known as Pokhran. It didn’t please the super economic power called United States but our PM Vajpayee Ji stood his ground, seeking consensus from the opposition in Lok Sabha and stood mightily to explain why nuclear weapons is a dire need for India’s future. It remains one of the major achievements of the Vajpayee Government, particularly to the then PM’s credit for refusing to be cowed down by US’s imperialist mentality and the veiled threat of sanctions. The first time that I was drawn to Atal-ji.

What stood up was his refusal to insult someone from the opposition and it’s no secret that he was affectionately called Hriday Samrat by his supporters according to respected journalist Prabhu Chawla in a special India Independence Day issue. After all, he held our first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in immense respect and the kind of political bonhomie embedded in his speech is something modern day politicians should learn from.  Witch hunting was never in his book so much that he once put his foot down despite pressure to remove Sonia Gandhi as President of the Rajiv Gandhi Trust when informed by the Attorney General Soli Sorabjee. It speaks volume of Shri AB Vajpayee as a PM, visionary leader and humanist.

There is no dearth of reasons why the People’s PM commanded such a huge amount of respect and has been an inspiration for me where the understanding of Indian politics started with him despite being diametrically opposed to the BJP. He was the right man in the wrong party. The vision of an ‘Akand Bharat’ was pioneered by him and in the current political turmoil and uncertainty, it’s the real challenge for India to bring back the moderate era of Vajpayee years that will make us shine and rise as a democracy.

Harking back to those days of ushering into adulthood, the poems recited by AB Vajpayee as the Indian PM and particularly at an event aired live won my heart. I was glued to the TV and swayed by his lyrical renderings of the PM poet. While I can’t recall the exact poem, going back to this priceless gem brings back those moments, “Jo kal the woh aaj nahi hain, Jo aaj hain woh kal nahi honge, Hone na hone ka kaam, Isi tarah chalta rahega, Hum hain, hum rahenge, Yeh bhram bhi sada palta rahega.” The wordsmith that defined the career of India’s former Prime Minister bowed out much before social media seeped into our lives and trust me, the pause in his speech and poetry rendition would have rendered the digital world, PR or even copywriters redundant. The prose often referred to his political tribulations like this one, Toote hue sapnon ki kaun sune siski, antar ki cheer vyatha palakon par thithki, haar nahi maanoonga, raar nahi thanunga, kaal ke kapaal pe likhta mitata hoon, geet naya gaata hoon.” No wonder that as a young student, Shri AB Vajpayee captured my heart and imagination.

The Vajpayee years was characterized by a PM armed with spine and courage to address the United Nations in Hindi which is one of the highs and proudest moments for India. I can never forget that speech at a time when I was preparing to join college and it played an important role in shaping my life. Such are the things that make Atalji one of the figures that inspire me and for whom my admiration bore no limit. It’s very rare to find such gems characterized by courage and truthfulness, particularly in today’s times.

In his tenure as PM, there is so much that Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has achieved right from the Golden Quadrilateral highway project in 2002, the largest highway project in India, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna linking five lakh villages to cities, Delhi Metro that change the way India traveled and spearheaded several reform projects that bore fruition with another intellectual PM, Dr Manmohan Singh.

‘Insaniyat (Humanity), Jamhooriyat (Democracy) and Kashmiriyat hold much relevance in today’s times enshrined in the history of an India increasingly characterized by unrest, lynching and mob culture, something that he would have never approved. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not only the first BJP Prime Minister but remained the only one who fobbed off extremist pressure pulled by the RSS with whom he had a strained relationship. Even in death, India’s former PM has reunited a nation, from old to young, liberals, conservative, left and right, Hindu, Muslims and Christians, something that Narendra Modi has failed to do. Post-Gujarat riot, the Bhishma Pitamah of Indian politics words to the present PM on Raj Dharma remains a lesson when moderate views have eluded us. He was the only one who sought and won consensus in politics and like he once said, if you like something about my principles, implement it in your life. A lesson that politicians cutting across all parties should perhaps learn and be more graceful with contrasting views. His legacy will loom large on us as a nation at a time when political discourse is in a pit cutting across political parties.

The most telling thing at Smriti Sthan today was the final rites of Vajpayee-ji being performed by his daughter Ms Namita that showed another facet of the politician who lived his life by the true principle of Hinduism free from bigot views. In a society where a woman performing someone’s last rites is still unthinkable, a strong signal has been sent and perhaps sums up the life of this great man and icon called Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee defining humility as a human being and politician.

 

 

Rest in peace Atalji and remembering you always

V

 

 

 

Tribute to the down-to-earth filmwallah Shashi Kapoor

He was christened taxi by his legendary brother, the greatest showman, Raj Kapoor for hopping between different shots and dropping his co-stars before finally wrapping home production helped by the former in the last.  Shashi Kapoor belonged to the rare breed of actors who immortalized the pause in his dialogue delivery. There are very few actors who would go into pause mode and inject their own style to pack a punch.

Image credit: google.

It’s a real treat to watch Shashi Sir perform on screen. He was a heartthrob, an actor par excellence much ahead of his contemporaries who bridged the gap between what we call art house or meaningful cinema and entertaining flicks. It wouldn’t be wrong to call him the Thinking Actor who unpeeled the character layers in sketching what he was known for, donning simple and middle-class roles.  He lent so much credibility and gave rare depth to the roles that he played on-screen. There was a certain grace and suaveness in the way he trotted on celluloid.

Balbir Raj Kapoor, that’s his real name who belonged to the first family in the Hindi industry dared to go against the crowd in playing memorable roles, be it in Junoon, Shakespearewalla, Utsav, 36 Chowringee Lane, Kabhi Kabhi and his last appearance Jinnah. There is a considerable debate that rages over time whether an actor should act into mainstream cinema whose aim is to entertain or do realistic artsy cinema. Somebody of his stature has put all debates to rest not through value statements but the rich repertoire of work by striking a fine balance between films that entertain and educate. At the end of the day, it’s a tale of making two kinds of movies, either a good or bad one. There are no two ways about it.

He was debonair, charismatic and a legend in his own way. There was no starry air of arrogance on screen, no overbearing act or yelling at the top of his voice. Shashi Kapoor’s performance was natural, effortless and to the point. Remember the effective Mere Paas Maa Hai in the classic confrontation scene as Ravi with Vijay immortalized by Amitabh Bachchan in Deewar?

It is very rare to find an actor of the stature of Shashi Kapoor in today’s time of social media, Insta world and tweet at every second that seems to replace histrionic performance on-screen. Gone are the days when the mere presence of a Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan or Dilip Kumar would make us sit and watch in awe. I think it’s very tough to list the top performances of the first crossover actor who acted in several international projects much before the overpublicized Indian film stars testing the Hollywood waters since he was in competition with himself.

Deewar, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Utsav, Kala Pathar, Shakespearwala, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Junoon, Sharmili, Trishul and Aa Gale Lag Ja are some of the memorable movies that remain entrenched in our minds. He was underrated as an actor but unfazed by stardom in the film industry. One of the rare actors who believed more in playing a character than taking the entire screen time as showcased in Deewar. It is perhaps attributed to his training at the Royal Academy of Drama and Art (RADA), one of the rare if not the only Indian who become alumni of this prestigious institution. Shashi Kapoor was secure as an actor and no matter the length of the role, he not only stood tall but shone with his soul looming large throughout the film. One such film is Silsila, the bonding that he shared with Bachchan electrified the screen and one among my favorite is the drunk sequence where both sang, ‘Neeche paan ki dukan upar Gauri ka makaan. Zara Jhoom Jhoom ke.’

One of the most handsome and secure actors, his energy was unmatched, the zest and passion for his craft as an artist or filmmaker something he shared with Dev Anand where both invested every cent into films.

Today, he takes an immense chunk of cinema with him as he bows out and experimenting with roles that made his journey into filmdom memorable.  The death of Shashi Kapoor is a huge loss to actors and the industry as a whole but he also leaves a void which is almost impossible to fill. The charisma and sheer passion which made him a cut above the rest and set him apart, the vulnerability showcased that made the actor  far ahead of several of his film contemporaries. Film-making is a risky proposition but at the same time, is listening to the heart like love. He was way ahead of his time. The history of Hindi cinema cannot be written without an artist of Shashi Kapoor’s caliber and truly the first filmwallah who nurtured his dream and dared to go beyond the kind of cinema of what his family has always done.

There is an interesting anecdote that Amitabh Bachchan once narrated on his blog. There was a time when Bachchan was struggling as an actor and stood among a crowd of extra for a flick when Shashi Kapoor saw him. Kapoor immediately walked to him and asked not to do small parts since he was meant for bigger things. The thespian actor told Bachchan to never hesitate for any help and his door is always open. It speaks volume of Shashi Kapoor as a large-hearted man.

http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/amitabh-bachchan-shocked-at-shashi-kapoors-plight_55340.html

Shashi Kapoor shall be sorely missed. He was not just a versatile and charismatic actor but a true legend.  The down-to-earth and affordable personality, memorable screen presence and a smile that would warm the heart of the most ruthless person must be told to aspiring cinema artists in film schools to help them hone their craft. The theatrical pause shall always be a legion to Shashi Kapoor and the ease with which he injected theatre into films made his screen presence relatable that aspiring actors must take a cue from. Unfortunately, not many could understand his Ajooba as a director, a modern take on the Arabian Nights with Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in the lead.

RIP Shashi Sir! You shall always stay in our hearts forever. Can’t believe that an era has come to an end with your death as you leave behind such a rich film legacy.

V

Tribute: Tom Alter, the lasting impression

Alumni and former Head of Acting Department at the prestigious Film Television Institute of India (FTII), veteran actor Tom Alter breathed his last on September 29 at 67. Eternally grateful to life that I was able to interact with the supremely talented artist one late night at FTII, the days I was assisting some friends who were aspiring filmmakers, actors, editors and sound engineers.  The year was 2006 when I was doing my finals at Fergusson College.

Alter was a huge fan of the first superstar in Hindi cinema, Kaka aka Rajesh Khanna and it was the time when the acting bug hit him like millions across India. Born to American missionaries in Mussoorie, the versatile actor joined the FTII where he had among his peers, stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah and Benjamin Gilani, who went on to found the theatre group, Motley.

Image credit Google/ http://images.indulgexpress.com: Tom Alter

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most I remember about this impeccable artist was during my childhood and teens ushering into adulthood days, they are his various portrayals of the ruthless Angrez, be it in Kranti, Parinda, and Aashiqui, just to name a few. Don’t blame me when it came as a shock and surprise during one breezy and wintery Pune night to witness him speaking in Shuddh Hindi after our three days shoot was canned.

I was naturally bowled and amazed to see a ‘Gora’ speaking pure Hindi with ease and not diluted by Puneri or Mumbaiya slang. Unfortunately, some of the cliché roles that he played in some Hindi pot boilers made me ‘wrongly’ believe that he was a white man while the reality is that he breathed Indian in blood and soul since he was born and brought up in the country.

I remember him as someone who was very down-to-earth, showing no starry airs or the slightest arrogance. There was a certain simplicity about him and stood in awe at the man who was not only very much grounded but a towering persona that commands huge respect.

Struck as I was, Tom Alter Sir was passionate about cinema and of course, offering his inputs to the aspiring film-makers that we were and having an uncanny eye for detail by inquiring about the shoot. It was his firm belief that in the years to come, FTII will play a bigger role to shape the destiny of Indian cinema through the talents nurtured.

It was a brief conversation and recalled him saying in Hindi that he should go to Mumbai tomorrow (Saturday) but will be around. He shook hands with everyone and walked fast like a royalty cum Kingly warrior. His spoken Hindi was like flawless music to the ear and an artist painting an aesthetic gem on the wall. I could never forget seeing him walking away from us with poise, grace, and style.

I wonder how someone in a very short span of time can make such a lasting impression on the mind and when heard that he was in a coma, suffering from cancer, it brought a tinge of sadness harking back to those days.

There are so many of his films that I missed watching and intend to go back to Shatranj ke Khiladi, Shyam Benegal’s Samvidhaan, Junoon, Sardar, Gandhi, Charas and of course visiting Zabaan Sambhal ke.

Tom Saab, as he was known by people close to him in the industry, was the one who conducted the first television interview of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, himself being a cricket buff bleeding blue. Many say that this all-rounder always wanted to portray on-screen Jim Corbett and of course, the hosting the Chunavi Chai show for the 2014 Lok Sabha that went on to become a huge hit. According to insiders, the man who served as director at FTII was a recluse and a private person that showed during my brief interaction with him, along with my friends who knew him well. Whether it’s playing Lucky in the play Waiting for Godot or his last appearance playing good friend Ruskin Bonde onscreen in The Black Cat, Tom Alter remains an institution of acting and legend that will serve as fodder for future generation of actors.

Shuddh Hindi and Urdu as his languages, Padma Shri Tom Alter was someone who I remember in this blink-and-eye meeting. There are people like this and perhaps unfulfilled wishes will find fruition in the sky and clouds. Rest in peace Sir for I am eternally grateful for having met such an admirable personality like you.

Love

V

Tribute to Vinod Khanna: Debonair star and unparalleled aura

Debonair star, memorable strike of acting, spiritual man and down-to-earth cum relatable demeanor gliding on-screen, superstar Vinod Khanna was all that in delivering stupendous performances that makes him ‘Amar’. It came as a rude shock and very saddening to hear that one of the most loved stars of the 70s and 80s, perhaps the only one that could match the Amitabh Bachchan mania and histrionics breathed his last today.

Image credit: Google

I was introduced to the Vinod Khanna’s movies while growing in the late 80s and remembering watching his Jurm and Dayavaan that made me relate to the actor. He was the quintessential hero, effortless in his delivery of stupendous performances during the heydays and a charm that many would envy. It was bliss watching him serenading his love lady with a sensitive touch. Who can forget the song, Jab koi Baat Bighar Jaaye tab Koi mushkil Pad Jaaye? He belongs to an era that saw many of his pairs fading away and sad to see that after we lost Om Puri Saab, another light eclipsed today. He was Vinod Khanna. I loved his pairing with Amitabh Bachchan, be it in Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony or Parvarish. The aura and charm that he displayed was unparalleled and probably hard to emulate by the six packs and biceps flouting new millennial stars. He would wade his way effortlessly on-screen and calm composure in delivering lines made me in awe of this amazing star that rules the hearts of our parents and us.

Vinod Sir was quite the ladies man and his unique sex appeal vis-a-vis them made it his USP. A man who choose to leave Hindi cinema at the peak of his career to embrace spirituality. He was a follower of spiritual guru, Osho. It speaks a lot of his ability to disconnect, something very few could have done. A legacy that stays forever, beautifully captured in the acting histrionics on the big screen. I was so amazed by his portrayal of the gangster in Dayavan, making it sexier than ever that the film stayed with me forever. A huge risk taker, he didn’t shy in kissing the diva Madhuri Dixit in the film which was shot in an aesthetic manner. In the late 80s, kissing on-screen was still taboo. He was known to have a big heart and according to publications, film crew would work in chappals in those days and he bought 100 pairs of shoes for a film crew in the 90s.

There was a certain vulnerability behind that dashing look, a softness that wooed and won hearts. His sensitive portrayal of the romantic roles in Qurbani and Chandni, angry young man cum cop portrayal in AAA, Satyamev Jayate and Jurm, the teacher in Imtihan, army officer in Achanak, don in Dayavan and villain in Purab aur Pachim or bond of friendship in Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Hera Pheri and Khoon Pasina all with Bachchan. Both shared some crackling chemistry and were direct competitors and at the same time good friends who recited their dialogues together. It’s such a lesson to the current crop of actors when today arch rivals slug it out publicly in an ugly manner.

The charisma and magnetism in his personality spoke to the audience directly and one of the rare actors who had complete control over his character, dialogues, scene and audience alike. The aura is what makes Vinod Sir relatable to the hilt and watching his movies gives the feeling that your dreams are realized on screen. I could be one of the characters made so much believable by him and which he immortalized on the silver screen.

I remember a very elder cousin who was a huge Vinod Khanna fan and me being a die-hard Bachchanalia telling me how during the AAA, audience were split in opposite camps and in the fighting sequence, seethis and taalis were thrown when both superstars wriggled it out with fists. The fists and jabs were counted and fans cheered on who won the battle. It’s the iconic scene in AAA, helmed by Manmohan Desai when Bachchan and Khanna met for the first time.

Vinod Khanna was always a composed and gentle soul who believed no job is too big or small, abandoning everything to follow his Master Osho. It’s one thing that I have in common with Vinod Sir: Osho.  He is a man who made a comeback as an actor who lost every penny and started from scratch in the 90s. The magic of the silver screen is that it captures live the histrionics of an artist who ruled for decades in the heart of admirers and swearing by cinema. The legacy be it as an artist, spiritual man or politician-cum Minister from Gurdaspur lives forever in our heart.

Perhaps, this sensitive song from Imtihan which is one of my favorite sums up when words fail. Ruk Jana nahin tu kabhie har ke….O Rahi o Rahi! A huge void and loss to the entire industry to see this polished diamond taking a bow.

Forever alive and taking a bow Vinod Sir for decades of love and entertainment. You shall be missed forever.

V