Amitabh Bachchan's Official Blog

Jalsa , Mumbai                                         May 30 ,  2011                                       Mon  10 : 21 PM

The music shall be released by the 7th of June through T-Series and before that putting it up on the sight would be unethical and wrong, so do hold on till then. I know it is a bit disappointing to hold on for so long, but the marketing people know what they are doing. There are other films, rather important and big ones being released alongside and before and after and seeing all this a strategy will be planned and done .. do not worry ..

So much for the film !

Oh yes another point. There are several other activities happening all at the same time – the promotion of another film of mine ‘Aarakshan’ releasing on August 12th … and KBC starting on August 15th .. so keeping all these factors one has to design publicity and promotions .. Got it !! Right !

Started early again today, but with a slight disadvantage. Slept late trying to work out other matters concerning the film and could not get sufficient hours to be refreshed for the shoot for KBC promos in the morning. Ahhh .. ! Did about 50 spots and promos for the game show and that was exhausting ! So rushed back home just now and am after posting my connect with all of you, screaming ‘Timberrrrr’ and collapsing into bed !!

And in the middle of all this was able to take time out for just a while to chase Shanouk around the house, indoors, as he excitedly ran bumped scrambled up and down sofas and staircases ! Also saw a few episodes of ‘The Kennedy’s’ which was strongly recommended by Abhishek and Jaya. Fascinating ! Its the entire story beginning from JFK’s early years, his family, Father and brothers and leading up to his President status and now, how he deals with various issues that keep coming up in office. Bit of deja vu after The West Wing, because it almost seems like they took over the sets of the latter !! Ha !

But goodness ! What a family. Ambition, desire, strength and a certain commitment to succeed at all costs. Led powerfully by the head, Joe Kennedy. Each member of the family possessing a certain something, that stood them apart.

As i get into the post production work on the film, I find myself involved with many aspects of modern film making and the amount of effort it takes to bring out that first print. Also what I am observing is the tremendous amount of talent that, having lain dormant for many many years, now erupting in wave upon wave of young enthusiastic entrepreneurs. The drive and determination to do well, to excel and to get to the top, is just incredible. Is this what the economic freedom, espoused by our leaders some 10 years ago, has done to us. Everyone of this generation wanting to prove a point. Wanting to make it big. Converting all their energy and talent into lucrative opportunities. Is this why the West looks upon us and China as the new frontiers ? Is this what the West now predicts is the reality of India – where we shall become that one portion among the three most powerful nations ?

If it does, and I am certain that at this rate it most certainly shall, then the credit will have to go to the spirit of that bracket of a generation that has fast evaporated in most Western countries, the youth. The youth between the age of 18 and 35. This age group in India today comprises the largest sector of the population – an element that was once ridiculed as being overtly immense and unmanageable. But ironically it is this section that is responsible for all the development that is taking place. The progress that is propelling the country forward.

And … this is the generational age that patronizes, our movies the most ! Which is why you shall find that subjects that identify themselves with the youth of the country are doing well. Which is why the tried and tested formulae, the routine, is just not working. There has to be a rabbit out of the hat every other day ! That is the impatience and speed with which this youth functions. And God help you if you are not in tune with them ! It is instant and final rejection !!!

Our task then of making movies, or producing anything of value is being guided by and dictated to by the 18 to 35 !

May this generation grow, may it accomplish what it sets itself up for and may it go and patronize ‘BBUDDAH -HOGA TERA BAAP ” !!

Love you ..

Jalsa , Mumbai                                    May 29 ,  2011                                       Sun 10 : 36 PM

And so to bed … a bit early, but its work tomorrow at KBC promotions and we need to start early …

It is a peculiar practice though. Sleep. I have always practiced, that whenever sleep overcomes you, sleep. Even if it is for a few minutes. When you fight it, many unwanted elements take over your body and even though you may succeed in the end, we can never tell what hidden damage it may have done. I find it quite normal to announce in the midst of a meeting, a function or a private occasion that you need to retire. At times it gets awkward, impolite and rude. But better to be honest about it than pretend that you are all there when you are not.

Ha ha ha ! I tried it today ! In the middle of a meet as I felt I was going to nod off, I announced my condition, asked everyone to stay put, disappeared into another room and got horizontal for 15 mins. Got up, splashed my face with water and was back – all attentive and energised !! Cool eh !!

Sunday today ! But .. work has no Sundays so it began early as always. Went over to dub for ‘Bbuddah’ and have completed half the film in merely two days. Which if I may add in trade practice is considered rather good. Another couple and I shall be through. Took 40 days to shoot what I dub for and 4 days to dub and final it ! Film making is a peculiar art is it not !!

Any way .. here for your benefit the Sunday fans and well wishers -

28 years … since 1982 my accident they come in numbers and express the same feelings as they do now ! What can one possibly say .. it is just beyond any words .. I have nothing to give them in return … perhaps just a smile, a namaste, a wave and some autographs … that is it ! And yet they come .. speechless and without any word !!

I met up with an old friend in the Force this afternoon .. a senior officer .. and was amazed and awestruck by the way they function and operate and what goes on in this very intricate system of law and order and security. How culprits and offenders are caught and brought to justice, what their experiences have been, what those that get apprehended behave once convicted and put to prison, their thinking inside the jail and so many facets of the convicted which could make such interesting material for research and reading. It is another world altogether ! Fascinating !!

I sit now with my head phones on me ears and listen as I type out, to that melody which I love in ‘Bbuddah’ – ‘Haal e Dil’ …. the condition of my heart ! And the condition of my heart can never be too far away from my well wishers and my extended family that have remained with me in my days and hours and months and years of my life, with love and affection and so much care ! The song may describe the condition of my being, in the context of the film, but I can say with utmost honesty, that it truly depicts what I genuinely feel for all of you, in the context of my life !

I hope I can substantiate this soon when I shall put up the music of this melody in your midst, which I might add is not too far away. The masters were delivered today to the music company and hopefully the Cd should be out in a few days after printing. I am trying if it can be put out as a special gesture to the blog first ..

Love and more and more …

Jalsa , Mumbai                                            May 28/29,  2011                                  Sat/Sun  12 : 27 AM

And so we return to the end of another day … another day filled with more of ‘Bbuddah’, the dubbing since the morning, the edit thereafter and now the comments to the picture on the Harley and … well what can I say. Your expressions of love and admiration embarrass me and I feel inadequate to absorb all that you express.

There are some concerns being expressed too. The publicity and promotions are all being designed by professionals and all your inputs are being passed on to them for action, so do not be impatient. All shall fall into place. We are aware of what else goes on, what we need to do and how it needs to be done. There is a pattern that we need to follow and we shall certainly do that.

Meanwhile news on the Vog continues for voice blog listeners not just in India, but as you all know in the UK as well. To subscribe you text BBOL 85525 and listen in. I voice in every morning in Hindi for my India subs and in English for the others. Soon the company that executes this informs me that an application shall be available whereby you could tune in to the Vog from any part of the world. That would be fantastic ! And … once a month through the medium of a programme called Talk2Me and StarTalk, I shall be able to speak to selected randomly few subs personally and individually. That is pretty good is it not. The connectivity broadens. Soon also the video blog shall get operational and there shall be light !! Errmmm … sorry a visual, a picture, a me that moves and can be seen talking .. outrageous !!

Thoda action thoda Jackson … Bbuddah hoga tera Baap  !!!

My love to all ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                      May 27/28,  2011                                Fri/Sat 2 : 31 AM

Jalsa , Mumbai                                       May  27/28,  2011                                 Fri/Sat  1 : 55 AM  !!

As always my faith and trust in the EF has risen above all my expectations. The outpouring of wanting to help in promoting the film ‘Bbuddah’ has been very emotional for me and I do want to thank all for this wonderful gesture of support. Most of what the anxieties expressed have been discussed at length in meetings today and may I say that they were all taken in the spirit with which it was expressed. I think all stations have been activated and shortly we shall see some results ..

My apologies also for this late post, but I have only just finished with all the work its supervision and its execution. If one is not obsessive at this stage of the film it can have disastrous results. This is the final mile and whatever needs to be decided and executed will reflect on the fate of the film. So even though there is a desire to do, there is the caution of wanting to do it well and correctly. But as Daisy so graciously reminded us of the Obama speech during his recent visit to the United Kingdom … ‘We can do it” !! Thank you.

I am very keen to share the music of the film with you, but shall have to wait for a go ahead from marketing. Perhaps what can be shared is the package of the songs which if I may be a little immodest has been unique. There is a modern youthful element, some typical London punjabi underground, an attempt at the very first ‘acapella’ and in India and in Indian movie the very first time ‘Dub Beat’ a element which I am told by Vishal and Shekhar is a rage in the western world and catching on very fast here too among the young. But my favorite has to be the melody composed by this very talented duo, sung by me and written by that lovely spark Anvita.

As you can see then, there is a lovely combination of many styles of music. Four of the songs have been rendered in my voice and I am afraid you may have to suffer through them, as they come from a non singer.

There is a ‘Bbuddah’ theme which has been playing in all the promos in the Acapella style. The same song has been rendered in the Dub Beat and if you have large music systems, or would listen to it at a club very loud, I am certain it would be a hair raising, inspirational and most uplifting experience – what do they call them that play or listen to such music – head bangers ?? or something like that ?? The medley is nostalgic and rhythmed up to make great dancing possible. And then of course my favorite, the melody – soft, romantic, put the lights off, shut your eye stuff arranged exceptionally of course by Vishal and Shekhar, but programmed by Abhijeet who works along with the duo. A great musician in his personal right. And those that may have had opportunity to see the ‘Unforgettable Show’, would remember him .. he was on the key boards !

The film is flamboyant in style, especially in my character which you may have guessed by the dressing design in the trailer. It is tongue in cheek where I am concerned, relaxed laid back and cool. To quote one of the lines in the Bbuddah theme – ‘Cool ka School hun mai !’ .. this apart from the catch phrase ‘thoda action thoda Jackson’ also in the theme tune in the Acapella style. I am keen to see the reactions on the medley and on the theme dub beat, as also the soft melody. Yes one may not associate melody with what has been seen so far, but it is there and justifiably so.

The posters of the film are ready and Rahul Nanda that brilliant designer, that has worked with us in many films, the last being Paa, has yet again excelled in his creativity. I should be in a position to put these out to the EF not just in the post, but trying to work out a system as suggested, of physically sending out packages to members.

I am excited that there is excitement among you .. and ever grateful that you have volunteered to extend your affection in such a graceful gesture. Thank you again … and with love !!

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa, Mumbai                                        May 26/27,   2011                                 Thu/Fri  1 : 57 AM

Ah ! the pleasures of typing in the name ‘Jalsa’ at the top of the post. Had missed it. Now safely back from across the seas and lands and mountains and plains and gusty winds and clouded skies and rain … on earth .. on my land .. at my home ..

‘Jaan bachi toh lakhon paae, ghar ke buddhu ghar ko aae’ !

No matter where we may be – in palaces as opulent as the Versailles, in the modest surroundings of Dharavi .. when you get home, it is the warmest and richest abode in the world ! I am happy, Abhishek and Aishwarya are happy and Shanouk cannot stop proving his affection !

So … its back to work and concerns on the film ‘BBuddah – hoga tera Baap’ and how to finish all the post production and marketing and promotion of the film. And as I face the numerous anxious moments of all the work that this shall entail, I am perhaps for the first time seeking help from this extended family of mine. I need to have suggestions and ideas of how much each one of you can do to promote this film wherever you are. Fatima has volunteered to get the details of all the fan clubs on Twitter and Face Book and Orkut, or any other medium and I have put her on to Viacom 18 our production partners to share information and to execute publicity for the film.

What I ask today is whether there shall be some among you that shall be willing to take up a few of these jobs and suggest some ideas of how to maximise this forward with effect. Some of the EF have been writing in to say how non existant the publicity of the film has been in their region. I am making note of that and soon something will move in that direction. But let me have more. There is an entire marketing division of the film that rests with Viacom 18 an entertainment channel world wide. They are involved and designing stuff, but it would be of added benefit if we could devise something of our own and push this forward.

I await your inputs ! Thank you !

I would not have ever made this platform into a selfish one, but at times when there are deliberate attempts to disregard, stifle and kill competition against us, then I roll up my sleeves and say ” Come On ” !! All this while no attention whatsoever was given to ‘Bbuddah’. There was never any mention in future predictions or assessments of films to come by the trade. Suddenly after the release of the first look promo, everyone seems to have woken up to the film and now see it as a deterrent for other products. We are a small company, we have made a small budget film, but with great heart. We are not the big popular stars that rule the firmament today, but we are there and wish to be noticed too. We cannot compete with or ever dream of denting the positions of those that have conquered the box office. All we want is a fair opportunity to be able to put our goods across for display and then leave it to the discretion of the viewer. And all I want to tell the others is, that there is a force that exists with me of dedicated members who are willing to take on this challenge and fight with me as a team ! So what … ‘Game on’ ??

I rest now … it is late … and i need to gear up from tomorrow morning …

Good night and God bless ..

My love as ever

London,  U.K                                           May  25,  2011                                  Wed  9: 27 PM  gmt

One of the great joys of life is the privilege and absolute delight that one encounters in the presence of grandchildren. Mine are here with me in London and spending ‘quality time’ here with them has been a most rewarding experience. Quality time within quotes has been done to draw attention to a terminology that reeks of corporate managerial lingo, often used by parents who consider it an obligatory duty to be with their own progeny. I find it most offensive and demeaning, not just to myself, were I to be placed in such category, but to those little wonders who inhabit such an important portion of their being with us. It is the deep innocence of the growing child that has always been a most endearing quality. To see that being destroyed or disillusioned by detachment, separation or dislike must be the most horrific of crimes that mankind can afflict upon its other.

During my little sojourn recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting a family that lived close by where we were, and to discover that they officially created a home for those little hearts that had been subjected to such harsh realities. They housed within their modest home a girl in her teens, and two young boys aged 8 and 5 perhaps, that had been displaced from their parents and had been rendered almost without help, until the state moved in and legally and officially gave their custody to this family. I learnt from them that the parents of these children had been declared incapable of looking after their own blood and so had agreed to let their children be cared after by another parent in another home. The couple that managed them and the house they were in, had their own genetic child as well, a grown son of 17 and all of them lived together as one big family. On occasion the children were taken across to their real parents to spend ‘quality time’ with them and then brought back to their foster home. And .. on most such visits, the adopted children were more at ease and comfort with the adopted than with their own.

How does a parent explain disinterest, or aversion to their own ? How can a Mother ever claim not wanting to be with her own child. To caress and hold and embrace, irrespective of their condition. These little hearts, bright and beautiful, innocent and wide eyed … how could any parent ever dream of parting with them. But they have and I am unable to assess how they feel, but I am told that there is no remorse, or emotion in the fact of the separateness of their children from them.

I marvel at the effort being made by the home that gives these lost and vacant children more than deserving, love and care. I marvel at the quality of the children that, knowing their circumstance, continue to adhere themselves to the foster than their own. And my admiration for the couple that looks after them as their own increases many fold, when I am told that the man in the house, is himself a victim of such a circumstance. As a little child he was thrown out of his home by his parents on to the streets, discarded and disowned, to fend for himself. He has today built himself up through sheer dint of hard work and existence and reached a stage of some integral comfort, to be able to volunteer and help those that find themselves in conditions similar to his. Remarkable !!

Today the home for those that are homeless, is the home where they are now. Today they treat the couple that looks after them as their own blood and treat them as parents. This is wonderful. But I wonder, when they shall mature and grow and get wise of the world and its complexities. When the vagaries of life and its harsh truths shall be known to them. When they will be subjected to reality, what then ? Would they still acknowledge those that cared for them ? Would they value the sacrifice made, or as does often happen in the West, they would leave home for greener pastures. What and how would they reflect on their life ? How would they treat their own, were they to encounter them at some stage. And what of the parent, the true blooded. Would they continue to look upon them that they discarded, with similar disdain, or would their be a change of affection ? Would they be able to know what affection to child is, having lived away in deliberate reason ? What complexities would this give rise to in the mental health of those that suffered and those that created the suffering ?

I have no answers to many of these. I have no answers because the circumstance has not subjected me to such condition. I can but only say that there rises a thankfulness towards my creator in keeping me away from such. In making my life a normal suitable one, for there are so many other that suffer.

We trouble our complicated mind with greater complications, when in fact there is enough reason to be grateful for what we have – a life of normalcy ! We tax our minds on material gains and envious visions of what we do not have, but the neighbor does. We are foolish to think thus. We forget the value of our own body, mind and normal circumstance. When we can be proud of this, boast about its purity and form, then shall we be considered as human, else we shall turn towards another kingdom, the kingdom of an animal. But even there, it has so often been noticed, parentage is guarded fiercely ! Is it so difficult to not behave even as an animal in these circumstances ?

I return to my bed … but have just hugged my blood and my blood’s blood .. held them tight, given them the warmth of my feeling and presence, caressed them and told them how much they are loved and cared for. No matter where, no matter what .. they shall ever remain so … !!

Amitabh Bachchan

London , UK                                       May 24/25 , 2011                                Tue/Wed  2 : 00 am   gmt

There are some joys in moving away. There are some joys in coming in. Which is greater one never can tell.

Some moving aways are sorrowful and continue to be with you till you come in, and remain for a time. What is this and why ? One has never been able to understand. Detachment is what the knowledged teach, not to get too close or too attached, for when the time comes to move away the pain and sorrow may dilute. Preaching is word perfect. Its practice an unopened window. The time taken in assessing its timing could take time to a higher degree. Best then to remain in the grain till it lasts and remove without pain when it does not.

I notice that many fail to understand the pervious post, or suggest that it be written simply for it makes difficult reading. Some express anxiety at the issue that could have caused me to write thus. Neither need attention. I write with an open heart and with some informality. It could cause adverse understandability. It is not written to. But if it does then it would be inappropriate to change it. What is done is done. Be it as it may – without sense, without meaning whatever … but as is. Perhaps this could be the state that the post finds itself in.

It is now a part of me. I would never want to change it.

So the climes of solitude are over and the chimes of the urban metro fill up almost as if the vacuum was unbearable. Strange though it may seem, but even a short burst of solitude urges one to return back to life of life’s aapadhaapi. The rush of it. Those that hibernate here in the city, would not understand the enthusiasm of the non metro and perhaps vice versa.

Never seen or been in a metropolis is by itself an awesome experience. It overwhelms. Never seen or been in the rural is an awesome experience too and it overwhelms as much. In a land where both exist, it is difficult for one to make the quantum leap to catch up with the other. Equally it makes it awfully depressive in the reverse. What then ?

I do not have any answers on this. Perhaps the learned on the blog or on the EF may have some inputs that could resolve this in more ways than one. I attempted it once. When I committed myself to public service and life. But found it too harsh and with a bearing which did not give me the qualification to pursue. But indeed the life of one as opposed to the other, is vast and disillusioning at times. We feel for those that lack. We applaud those that achieve. Is there a possibility of a balance ? No I doubt much. Those who have not need to have. How will they have if the haves are constrained is one argument. Putting all issues to the state is also unwarranted. It shall not happen. Individual help and assistance can only go this much and no more. Hence the balance and its vast importance.

Who then will decide the balance, or measure its scale. Another issue ! That then is the problem. Not the desire, not the keenness to balance, but to find a suitable measure of rightful balance. Many of those that come up with noble execution, face the ignominy of being what they are termed as being. A leader of men may have a solution, which another may find creating far too great a value to his position and could as well want to destroy. It happens in politics, in business, even in entertainment. Guile then is the password. Guile ? In politics acceptable. In business too. But in entertainment ? Difficult to understand. But I am told happens. More so now with the fresh crop, that manages and knows the strengths of management and marketing. And they gain and progress. Perhaps not so much in the art, but in the art of management, and thereby success.

We have a lot to learn yet. Life teaches every day. Don’t go to school one day and find yourself washed away from the shore into the deep ocean, never to be retrieved again. That is sad. But true.

I need to learn a lot …

Amitabh Bachchan

Ekant                    May 23 ,  2011                      Mon  11 : 00 PM

Ekant Sangeet … the music of solitude … of being alone, singular or a certain quietude, away from all other, left to oneself, discarded, forgotten and removed … into oblivion !!

Many wish it for themselves. Many wish it for you.

Those that are ‘themselves’ perhaps will it so, from circumstance desire and deliberate. Those that ‘wish’ it, do it with hate and vengeance, of retaliate and envy .. a dash of jealousy, zealous with intent, the presence of your eminence of some harm to them. They that fall into such a morass depict despicable nature. They fall each day into an abyss, deep and unable to extricate themselves from it. They shall never be able to breathe their swim to the top into a fresh air. They know they shall breathe, but instead fill their lungs with the acqua of devastation and death. That is scary. Scary for them. They have seen and perhaps know better what awaits them. They repent not for they know repentance needs the hemispheric air. They are so deep within the tons of trillion tons that they shall not survive. Might as well then expound all the evil that they can. The heavens shall not revive them they know, let the devil then be proud of their evil. Someone of consolation !!!

But of them that wish it for themselves – the silence of purity, the beauty of nothing extreme except the vast coverage of the ethereal atmosphere, never dark, never oppressive, but bright and inviting, enveloping all that governs their existence ! A mind then that remains clear even on clouded realm. One that exudes tolerance, fortitude, forgiveness and understanding – they then are the chosen one. The one that shall bear the cross, hang in pain but be liberated from it for they rise and lift in deliverance. Their ascension shall never be questioned, or debated or doubted. Their ascent shall be driven by those that once threw the stones of despise and evil. That shall and will be their most acclaimed position, never to be argued, never to be wasted upon !!

These shall be in peace. Those other shall live in the depth of decrepit foul emission !

Glory then to us. Shame and insignificance to them, as they burn and rot in their own stew !!

‘Ekant Sangeet’ … the title of one of the 60 odd books that remained with my Father in his words. His solitude, his pain and his lonely life surrounded by misery and death for a large portion of his life. Until … the advent of a certain ‘tej’, that speed and brightness of spark, one that could enlighten environs with admirable optimism. One that gave him reason for ‘light everlasting and unconquerable’. Blessed and in awe ever !

I am but a reflection, mirrored in the supreme brightness of its shine. The mirror cracks and mists with impurity at times, but disturbs not the reflect, nor the image that remains seen. I must strive to remain in the mirrored image. To be of relevance to those that seek reflection and refraction. And for those that come after me, admonished they may be, doubted and unfairly judged, let them be with piece of mirror, for, the piece shall piece together the greatness of its fullness. This is not desire of Father and of the Son or of the Holy Ghost, it is but expected deemed ..

Amen !!

Amitabh Bachchan

‘Ekant’            May 22,  2011                                        Sun 11 : 56 PM

Nothingness contributes to nothingness, they say. I would tend to agree with this with some elements of hesitancy thrown in. Rest and relaxation could be in the realm of doing nothing except perhaps to come away from harsh work schedules. There may not be work in it, but the rest in recuperating the mind and body could be of immense benefit. If there are no dead lines to meet, no appointments to rush to, no time lines to be met, the exercise could well be quite rewarding. Other than taking in the fresh air, there really isn’t much to take in on such occasions. It would differ I should imagine if the person involved were to be finding rest and relaxation in his or her work itself. Then of course the reason for rest would have to be negated and forfeited. But other than this, it would be of interest to see how others reacted. Many during this time take up new and untouched ventures. Vocations that do not have any relevance to their immediate work. Its a brave attempt. An attempt I think that could in the long run enhance some aspect of their regular work. Which is an interesting way of looking at it. Working as an actor, but playing golf for example in that spare moment – competition, concentration, patience, correct choices in the iron – correct decisions on the project film ! Funny how everything gets interrelated ! Such magic ! Play a sport to win always, obsess labor plan. Do a movie and bring in those practices again. Fascinating ! I know many that approach either with similar sentiment and are cause for envy. But why. Each individual should have his or her game plan in a professional world. Most, in an individual professional world. This is our realm our job our life, it would need all that it needs to succeed and prosper. Why then disuade them from practicing what they need to practice, when they work for its enhancement.

There are friendships and associations and holding hands in various professions. Can we honestly say that they are above the consideration that they have been formed with ? Does it not cross our minds at some stage that an association would benefit a certain cause other than what the association is about ? Invite someone over for dinner, for who knows, tomorrow we may need him. Lets send him or her flowers and a card on the birthday or anniversary. They are important people !! And on …

At some stage of our lives we have all sat back and thought or executed such acts. Who to acknowledge, who to not. Who to hold hands over a meal and who not. And perpetually the thought ringing in our ears, good we came to know them, imagine what would have transpired if they had not been around. It is a harsh reality, but a reality all the same. Some where sometime it does cross our mind. It should not, but it does.

That is the positive behind such operation. There is the other too. Know someone, connect with him on an issue, seek his now understood reason for the relationship, and he says he cannot ! Genuinely can not. Does the relationship sour ? Man … I asked you a favor as a friend, you are my friend are you not, and you move away ? Never expected this of you, how could you ? And now when ever you meet or invite or consult, would it not have the strains of that flavor where there was the absence of the expected help. Just wondering and conjecturing !!

Of course this does not take anything away from those rare and genuine relationships that have through generations gone beyond expectation and hope and duty. They exist and prosper despite all else. They exist despite the oft repeated thought in our minds – ‘let me do this for him, after all I do owe him one, do I not’ . When do we forget that thought, ‘after all’…

A simple situation but one that lingers in my mind often …

So what does one do ? If you were to ask me, I would do, and do it without knowledge of the other. Or never attempt to display my presence, or talk on the subject. Favor done, forget it. My Father was surprised once when a friend of his returned his borrowed money to him after 25 years ! He never expected it but it came back. So he gave me wisdom again -

Never lend, and if you do, never expect it to be back !!

I hope the almighty shall never put me in a situation where I shall need to ask, or beg. Neither would I want to be in a situation where I am expected to give. But if there were to be a consensus on my attitude I would myself vote for giving rather than asking. And after giving I would honestly forget !!

Somewhere there is a beauty in the soul when this is done. Better a better soul than a calculating mind .. with so much beauty around do we really need to …

May the serenity and peace of the above be with you ever .. nature builds it we often destroy it .. maybe we should change the cycle ..

My love

Amitabh Bachchan

‘Ekant’                                                        May 21,  2011                                         Sat 11: 57 Pm

“The morning slides up upon the pane,

Fresh air through an open vane

The chill across the body warm,

No harm.

The sea it splashes hard and strong,

Beyond a point, there is no wrong

We stand and stare and stare and stare,

Nature so beauteous, can never be fair.

Take up the walk, take up the shore

Take up upon never ending and more.

A way side Inn, in sun and glare

Little seats about the pavement bare.

Much later then another walk

Vast bodies of rock, silent, no talk.

There is a silence about and above

This is not game for treasure trove. “

There is no bigger joy than sitting up in the late evening and sharing up the day with the extended family. The fear of not being able to do so was looming large through out the previous night and this morning. But the heavens helped, the skies broke away the dark and disillusioning clouds and connection exercised its vote in our favor !

A relief then … and greater than most people are able to understand. The thrill and excitement that has prevailed on the release of the ‘Bbuddah – hoga tera baap’ promo stood way behind in my thoughts when the net refused to answer to the various combinations that I continued to press to initiate just any indication of life on these fibre glass wires and cables ..

But the mood changed dramatically when quite by chance everything came to life and a whoop filled the air. We were back and how ! And no, that was not meant to steal from the promo of the film on release !!

How ever did we manage when we were unconnected, distant and out of sight and sound. How ??!

It is difficult to imagine. The personal mobile, that birthday warning, the reminders for work to be done, reactions instantly of activity undertaken and a host of other important notes, all at the palm of your hand and a reliance on them for life. Our new colorful and active brain ! Decorated by digits and screens and all kinds of apparatus needed to allow it to function at its utmost.

I had been concerned about Rajnikant and his illness. I had spoken to him a few days before coming away. He sounded frail and disturbed. His ever efficient wife, Latha ji was taking good care. I merely told him not to ignore whatever the doctors were saying and to listen to them. But media and its reporting machine through a vast blast of breakings, was making me anxious. So I connected again and was pleased to find that he was improving. The fans and well wishers , the incessant media around his house was beginning to give him no space to have a restful day in the house, hence the shift to hospital. I believe he is back home and nothing could give me greater pleasure.

But back to the promo and ‘Bbuddah’ .. when some stalwarts write in to say and give final analysis, its time to wonder what it is that we have done. A rethink follows and a desire to hope that all goes well at the time of release.

Your prayers are solicited fervently ..

Amitabh Bachchan

SeaSandRockDessertSnow and ekant     May  20 ,  2011                           Fri  7 : 52 Pm

The location is causing me problems of communication … and I am livid ! I hate to be in a situation when connectivity deprives me of my most important moment of the day – my post to my EF ..!!

I have always tried to be at a place where at least if nothing else, my network works. That has not been adhered to when I got to where I got to and this is upsetting my mind and thinking.

Anyway .. we must live with it and find a way out .. and if there is no way out, you change. So if things do not improve, I shall move ..

The first look promo of the ‘Bbuddah – hoga tera baap’ trailer was released today on the Tv during the IPL game and I have been overwhelmed with the response that has come to me on twitter and the mobile here. This is just such a joy to find all the hard work paying off. I must first thank the  director Puri Jaganath for conceiving this idea for me and pushing me to do it, with a strong persuasive effort from Ram Gopal Varma, whose assistant director Puri had been. The entire team of people that have worked on the film need a warm applause from me and my thanks for working like a fine well strung unit. They have patient and composed and most efficient. Thank you all. Now the test for the audience starts … the film releases on the 1st of July and all our fingers and toes are crossed for its hopeful appreciation among the audiences !!

London was most rewarding and had its share of excitement and varied experiences. With the innovation and inauguration of the Bachchan Bol Vog in the UK and meeting all those that have developed and seen it function to perfection, I was exposed to an entire media entourage in their most generous and polite respectful manner. It was wonderful to see them all after a long time and to find them still interested in what I do and say.

Oxford in the middle of all this was such a rewarding visit. Would you not agree after this -

And that ladies and gentleman of the EF … is the Magna Carta ! The original, preserved and archived in the Bodlein Library at one of the many ornate and grand halls of the Oxford University. Been shown to me in a rare gesture of exclusivity, this is such an honor. A document that became the corner stone of the practice of law, of democracy and in many ways the formation and reference for the construction of several major Constitutions of country’s. Awesome !!

Along with this there were so many other such experiences that it would take me a while to not just describe them but, to understand and explain their importance in today’s world. You feel so dwarfed in the presence of such magnificent greatness, such vast knowledge that if circumstances permitted I would want to get back to University again. And as I say this I remember an incident that transpired between my parents and the first Vice President of the country, that great mind Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. In one of his private meetings with my Father and my Mother he had told her ” sell all your jewelry, but send your boys to Oxford or Cambridge ” !

And as I spent time with the many intellectuals at the University there was talk among them of the need and importance of preservation – even preservation in our own film Industry – of our films and scripts and songs and dialogues and procedures that went through in their making. How humbling to think that intellectuals out of another country, people of great eminence in the field of international education and knowledge, would even consider thinking or suggesting such procedures to us, when really it should be coming to us independently and within ourselves. Would there be any takers, any initiatives ?? I wonder and lament too !!

The winds turn cold .. the evening dark … and the silence haunting and daunting almost at once .. it comes to the stage when I must bear the unhappy thought of closing my conversation with you ..

The blue waters of the sea, the distinct outlines of the scattered islands below, lived in, housed and formed along the edges of vast fields of agricultural enterprise, the gentle white impressions of the surf among the waves that clash with their own counterparts, a few sparse clouds, a drone .. and ekant !!

Love to all ..

Amitabh Bachchan

London , UK                                   May 19 , 2011                               Thu  10 : 21 PM GMT

More promotions and more interviews and more travel in crowded London streets, where the traffic congestions are beginning to resemble the streets of our own Mumbai ! But all said and done it has been wonderful. It is wonderful to be knocked on the door by your grandson and to sit with him for breakfast. To chat about everything under the sun with him. To listen to their analysis of situations. To hear a mature controlled and chilled out kid. Such a joy when you spend quality time with the loved ones.

And then in the middle of all this, there is the wonderful Shekhar of the Vishal and Shekhar duo of music, wanting to share a song idea for ‘Bbuddah’. How time has changed the modes available for the practice of jobs that would perhaps never have been conceived before. Shekhar sends me a rough scratch for the song on email. I put him on mobile – he in Mumbai, I in London .. we listen together and then give suggestions and music inputs over the net ! And whoooah ! We have another hum drummer of a song in the making ! What is communication doing to us !!

Family breakfast over its off to media and after a few, its Chris Tarrant, the first host of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ here in England, doing radio now and waiting to meet up with me. We had met almost 10 years ago on the sets of ‘Millionaire’ here at the Elstree Studios. I was brought here by Star Tv to have a look at the making of the show, which is where I first met Chris, himself apprehensive of what the show woud turn out to be. But look what it did with our careers. Ever grateful for this …

The Bachchan Bol facility has been widely talked about and widely diccussed. These are the first few days for the activation of the service and we hope as time goes by we shall be able to connect with friends and followers and fans and well wishers. Its gone off pretty well I think. WE do hope that those that are in London shall contribute to it graciously by punching in the following text : BBOL  85525 and listen in …

And now exhaustion of the highest order has taken over, after my return from the BBC tv facility, where I was on for the ‘the One Show’, I believe a most popular one. I must to bed because I travel again tomorrow morning very early and I do wish to get in my 40 winks before !!

Stay well and stay connected … love and more ….

Amitabh Bachchan

London , UK                                                    May  18 ,  2011                                           Wed 6 : 40 PM  GMT

The Bachchan Bol, vog for the United Kingdom was launched to day, and I am back after a most exhausting non stop press meet and one on ones with the media. The excitement of initiating another concept, another challenge, another first is palpable. The India figures have reached an incredible 2.66 million subscribers and one hopes it shall increase as time goes by with other nations coming in. For those that inquire about the USA and other countries, there is news for you. An app., is under construction through which it shall be possible for anyone in any part of the world to access the Vog !! Hurray !! And hopefully with more time the process of providing a visual to the subscriber as I talk shall also be available, along with many other fresh discoveries that need for the moment, time on its technology to be developed.

The media was most kind and respectful, disciplined and orderly, pleasant and accommodating, keen to acknowledge and without any hint of aggression ! Which for an individual of my perceived reputation with them, was heartening and most likable. I guess the fact that we as celebrities of the Indian Cinema are not seen as often as we are in Mumbai and in front of the Mumbai media, could be one of the reasons. However, it was a most organized and well conducted day and I must compliment the press both from the UK and elsewhere to have given me reason to smile and applaud their presence. Thank you.

I am still reeling under the effect of the Oxford visit and have not been able come away from the keen interest that most British teaching institutions, have shown and continue to do so in the present, towards tradition. The hall where the Oxford Lecture was conducted is an ornate marvel of the times it was built. It is known as the School for Examinations and still continues with the tradition of all students who enter its august location for an examination to be dressed in traditional student gear – gowns, caps and all !

The Bodlein Library a remarkable, old but well maintained, quiet and historic edifice, housing some of the most ancient and time capsuled manuscripts and books of an era that initiated the relevance of a good education, is to be seen to be believed. When we enter the portals of these magnificent buildings, the one thing that immediately strikes you is the detailed and most artistic manner in which the entire stone work must have been constructed for it to have lasted and continue to for hundreds of years. The sight of an imposing structure, with architectural finesse and beauty, must certainly have been done with one singular purpose – to invite with immense awe, the learned to share their academic wealth, towards those that desired to be interested in the learning. The imposing buildings and halls and long artistic galleries and quadrangles, surrounded by looping sensitively carved gates, built with great imagination, not just to look grand but to also inscribe on them the delicate detail that would recount their existence at the time they were constructed or pay great heed to the history or culture of the time, or in some subtle way indicate those that may have contributed generously towards its making. The donors or those that in the times must have taken keen interest in building these structures by generous financial donations were often represented through their ‘coat of arms’ being imbedded on the ceilings with immense dexterity and design. The largest emblem bearing in its reckoning the fact, that they had contributed the most, financially. And it is remarkable how not much has been done to renovate or change the material that had been used then. And what foresight to have thought of building something that would last centuries, for, the gift of learning needed perhaps the student first to respect the aura and magnitude of the place of education in its largeness and in its volume, before he even entered or was welcomed in. The ornate beauty of places of worship, the churches and chapels were perhaps the early indicators of how they had or may have wanted their ‘churches of education’ or as they are referred to in modern times the ‘temple of learning’ to look. Educating oneself was almost in equation with that wondrous interior which housed the Gods and Goddesses of various religions, where prayer and worship was rendered with utmost respect and dignity and belief. Was not then, these marvelous structures that imparted knowledge, similar in their belief and prayer ! Belief in what was being taught, and a prayer of thankfulness for the benefit that they were deriving from it.

Modern life, modern thinking and modern surroundings have taken over from those time tested ancient locations and buildings. The awe, that inspired generations of those connected to the art of education, is not quite the same now, though the brilliance of the minds that have erupted with time, has been most progressive.

I see schools and colleges in metro cities today, housed in large high rises, the entire institution designated to different floor levels as in apartment buildings and wonder where is that awe inspiring feel of entering a premise that exudes a climate of learning and knowledge.

But to counter this thought has been the desire and intent that has been wrapped in that loin cloth – simple, sparse but high in value and content. We have seen that the brilliance of the mind is not necessarily influenced by the large and ornate edifices of education. Students from humble and simple backgrounds have also brought glory and name to the realm of learning, many of them excelling beyond expectations and giving stiff competition to those that may have had the priviledge of an elitist education.

What has however ridden above all these social moral and political decisions that have from time to time been taken to address the issue, is the honest fact that given equal opportunity to all to compete to learn to progress, would bring equality in the system, plagued as it is with compromising events.

To end then … to begin ..

Amitabh Bachchan

London, UK                                   May  18,  2011                              Wed  7 : 09 AM  GMT

When Amitabh Bachchan met William Shakespeare

PTI – 47 minutes ago

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From Prasun Sonwalkar

(with pix)

Oxford, May 18 (PTI) Indian film icon Amitabh Bachchan played many characters from William Shakespeare”s plays over the years, but when he was shown the First Folio of the plays dated 1623 at the ancient Bodleian Library, he was awestruck and rendered almost speechless.

“It”s incredible,” he simply said, feelingly moving his hand over the pages containing dialogues he had delivered in several stage performances during his career spanning over four decades.

Bachchan was on a visit to Oxford at the invitation of the university”s Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS).

Besides hosting a reception for him at the centre, he was shown around the ancient university, including the Bodleian Library, which was established in 1602.

“A great actor is touching the work of the great playwright,” remarked Richard Ovenden, Keeper of Special Collections of the Library, as Bachchan turned the pages of the priceless Shakespearean document.

“We often have scholars coming to see these rare collections, but this is the first time that a great actor is visiting us to see the work of Shakespeare,” Ovenden said.

The work is titled ”Mr William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies”, better known to scholars as the First Folio.

Printed in folio format, it contains 36 plays that have been the delight of generations over centuries.

Another priceless item shown to Bachchan was the manuscript copy of the first English translation of Kalidas” ”Shakuntala”, by William Jones, dated 1788.

A scholar of ancient India, Jones founded the Asiatic Society in Kolkata in 1784.

He was also shown the original copy of the Magna Carta, the 1215 charter that limited the power of the monarchy and laid the foundation for a series of historical developments that led to the rule of constitutional law and democracy.

Bachchan was received at the OCHS by its director, Professor Gavin Flood, who is an expert on South Asian traditions, particularly Hindu Tantra, and senior staff including Shaunaka Rishi Das and Lal Krishna.

Much to the delight of Indian students and others who recognised him, Bachchan walked along Oxford streets to visit the Bodleian Library, where he was received by Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton.

Later in the evening, Bachchan said: “I have spent the most enjoyable hours in this historic institution. It has been a treat that will remain in memory for long.

“It is a great honour to be received so warmly by this ancient and renowned university”. .

Rushing now for the inauguration of the Vog in UK ..

love and more later ..

Amitabh Bachchan

London, UK                                               May 17/18,  2011                                      Tue/Wed  12 : 43 Am  GMT

I find it difficult to even start assimilating what this day has turned to be ! History, culture, legacy, academia, education all pouring out from every breathe of my body in complete admiration of the respect and the honor that is given to the profession and art of teaching !!

I have spent an entire day amidst the various institutions and learning centers at Oxford University. Spending time and in complete amazement at the amount of energy and infrastructure that was designed for the purpose of education. I have walked the streets and lanes where once great eminence and men of letters must have moved. I have  specially been made a member of those that have had the opportunity and honor to witness those, that have excelled in the art of preservation and archiving, of preserving for posterity. Manuscripts and documents and books in the most ancient and ornate libraries of hundreds of years in time !

I need time to get all this together and write about it in peace and within my own description ..

I have another early day tomorrow and so must I be asleep … will fill up in the morrow ..

Amitabh Bachchan

London , U.K                                                     May  16 ,  2011                                            Mon 10 : 56 AM

Greetings from the United Kingdom, which as you may observe is where I have landed myself this morning.. and which as you will observe in time will be where I shall be launching the Bachchan Bol Vog facility for the UK .. and which in time to come, perhaps not very long, about a month, shall initiate the possibility of connecting to my Vog worldwide … excited !!

And here on the streets with the first print publicity of ‘Bbuddah – hoga tera baap’ ..

Bachchan Bol gets all geared up in the coming days. We launch this in the United Kingdom on the 18th of May. Its my Vog, or in simpler terms, my Voice Blog. Did any of you know how the word Blog came about ? Well it was WEB LOG first. Which was a description of something that was logged and retained on the web. So Web log. And then using the last letter ‘b’ from web and ‘log’ from the second word and Boom ! we have ‘lift off’…. BLOG !

The work on the finishing touches for ‘Bbuddah’ has begun in real earnest. Lots to do and times to be met. Release on July 1st is almost upon us and its that time of day when you begin to get all nervous and anxious for the finishing of the film in time. Being away from Mumbai is not a good idea, but what to do, these are commitments that go hand in hand with my work, so we get into it, delegate and hope that all moves well …

The grandchildren and Shweta are here, all grown up and adultish. Taller than I what I saw of them just some days back almost, and more leaner and mature. Such a joy to be with them and be able to converse and share conversation which I would with someone my age ! The kids of today are just not built to be kids. They move from the day of birth within a couple of months to adulthood !

I am keen to share the music from ‘Bbuddah’ with the EF, but need clearance from the music company, so do hold on to your horses for a while. There is a theme song for the film where Vishal and Shekhar have used what they call and what is internationally known as ‘Dub Beat’. Its been done for a Hindi film song for the first time and when you hear it on studio level speakers its like .. WHOAH !! Mix of Rock and Hard Rock, or whatever the terminology for it is .. apparently its very big overseas in the West .. so I am told !!

But really what has been most rewarding for me as an admirer of music has been the soft melodic number composed by the music duo – ‘Haale Dil’ .. they have asked me sing that and, horrid that I sound, I have to say that the tune and the melody and the words by Anvita are beautiful !

Also most rewarding has been a composition by V@S of Rabindranath Tagore’s legendary song written and tuned by him – ‘Ekla Cholo Re’, for a film by Sujoy Ghosh, my director of ‘Alladin’, has recorded for his film presently called ‘Kahani’ with Vidya Balan. It has been historic in its concept from the day it was originally composed by the great man, but to get a piece of it as an opportunity to sing it in a song has to be a moment to cherish forever. The quality of its composition and the words are just incredibly beautiful and it is only when you delve deeper into it that you realize the genius of the work. V@S have done a marvelous job with it and rendered it in a most unusual manner.

Ah !! So much to say and share and such little time to do so ..

But for the moment lets just concentrate on my visit here, its purpose and its great usage in connecting even closer to the fans and the extended family. More later … and much much more in the days to come …

My love as ever …

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                        May 15, 2011                                       Sun  11 : 11 PM

And the day begins again after the night before .. a night filled with the essence, genius and remarkable wizardry of a poet and musician and philosopher and thinker – Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore ! It has been quite an experience to have been in such close connect with one who we heard and continue to revere. With one we knew of in his greatness, but never had opportunity to study and feel the depth and flow of his thought. What a large portion of my life has gone by and what a large portion of opportunity has flown by the river, without making any effort to read learn and assimilate the greats of the world. Truly disappointed and frustrated with myself in this lapse of effort and desire.

But as they say, there is never ever a time to regret a start ready to be made. So the endeavor shall begin and perhaps now the meaning and the depth that needed to be understood, shall be with us instead.

The promotion of KBC starts simultaneously ans some very interesting stills and acts for the Av have been designed, shot and getting ready for telecast. For example as in the above ..

The Sunday crowds were there again and this as I was on my way back from dubbing some key scenes of ‘Bbuddah’ for the promo and its quite a day in the life of the Mumbaikar, for, he likes the idea of getting by the sea with his family, to beat the heat of the entire day. On their way back they drop by at a certain house called Jalsa, that just happens to be en route !!!

got to rush

Amitabh Bachchan

The earnestness with which we have now initiated the promotions for ‘Bbuddah’ shall hopefully bring in the desired attention and focus to a film made with passion and a lot of energy. There are links now available to access the promotions that are now available and I shall put them down here :

For the posters ..

Facebook page

www.facebook.com/Bbuddah

And for the teasers ..

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http://www.youtube.com/Bbuddahthemovie

I do hope that you shall give me your feed back ..

Another Sunday has gone by, but one which was devoted to constructive work on the post work of ‘Bbuddah’ and for it to be completed by certain time lines because the date for its release has now been desperately cued in for July 1st ..

Jalsa , Mumbai                                            May  14/15,  2011                                                Sat/Sun  1 : 12 AM

The day started at 6 am and has just ended. There were promos to be shot for Kaun Banega Crorepati, since it goes on air soon. Perhaps by August as against the earlier year when it was in October/November. Its also of a longer duration this time around. Promos are the order of the day today, whether in film or Tv or any other communication venture. Its the promo that makes the difference. Gone are the days when we had faith and confidence in the product for it to speak for itself. Nope. As the young would say often these days. If you do not talk or sell it no one is interested. Marketing has opened up corporate offices where young entrepreneurs battle with circumstances and build plans on how a product a personality should be presented to the mass. A most exciting profession, but one that has never found favor with me, primarily because my sense of all this exalted jargon is miserably poor.

But in our modern era of film making its the ingredient of the promotion that decides for the audience which and what film they wish to see. I really do not think it to be improper at all. With the kind of exposure that entertainment through the various channels of communication, has brought to our homes, it would be most difficult to resist not going to a film, or conversely, deciding somewhat firmly which they would not want to see.

So the entire day was enveloped in shooting for the promos for KBC. In all about 15 to 20 of them were shot, along with Avinash Gowarikar’s still shoot. So you did a shot for the video, stepped down to the still, rushed down to the changing room, improvised in the corner of the floor, changed clothing and reported back for the next film. And this went on with each dress change … and there were quite a few. And when it was finally over drove straight across to Vishal and Shekhar’s studio to record a song for ‘Bbuddah’ and then … to execute a commitment to Sujoy Ghosh of ‘Alladin’ fame, by singing a portion of a song for his film ‘Kahani’, starring Vidya Balan.

One has and had heard ‘Ekla Cholo re’ a million times. Read and reread its words that oozed wisdom, strength, poetry and courage all at once, too. But may I just say that singing Rabindra Sangeet for the first time was the greatest revelation. The beauty of the language, the lyricism of the tune and its ‘dhun’ are outstanding. This particular, world famous number “Ekla Cholo” , expounding to all that if no one came to you on your calling, walk alone !! And what a fabulous song has been incorporated by V@S. Truly awesome and worthy of all award.

Singing for the track today you discover how inadequate you are to handle something created by Gurudev Tagore. Not just in words but also in its tune. It is by far one of the most unique compositions in the world of music. And being associated with it in some capacity has been nothing short of an honor.

While in the middle of the shoot, got a surprise visit from Deepika Paducone, who was shooting next door on another floor and dropped by to wish. She is such a warm person, and she was looking a million bucks. After the shoot of ‘Aarakshan’ she had gone to Tirupati and had very sweetly brought some ‘prasad’ for me and the family.

At the studio a while later, it was Vidya Balan who turned up along with Sujoy, who I think was showing her some rushes of the film they are doing together. Two leading ladies in one day !! That is quite remarkable ! Just got lucky I think ….

Somehow there is a most fulfilling feel to the day. I do not know what exactly is the reason. But I shall not put it beyond the Tagore song and its beauty. Simply so uplifting and …. difficult to find words to describe it !!

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                          May  13,  2011                                     Fri  11 : 32 Pm

Coping with loss of a near and dear has always been most painful. And no matter how hard one tries to contend with it, by putting up a brave face, it seldom works. For one that has to involve himself in various different type of work, ranging from domestic, social and professional, it becomes all the more difficult. It has never been the work or its volume that has mattered, but the state of the mind, that has hindered any sane thought. The pressures of work are a man’s prerogative. The more complex and exhausting the job we tend to find that extra energy to somehow complete and justify the work done. But when the mind is loaded with pain, sorrow, indifference, selfishness of others, disrespect … then some areas of the brain shut shop and refuse to function at the optimum.

So last night was the premiere show of a film that had been produced by friends – Ekta Kapoor and her newly appointed partner Ashwin Varde , ex Stardust. Ashwin despite the nature of the magazine he had been editor of and despite the nature and tenor of the contents that it brought out had been a compassionate journalist. His wife Sarita Tanwar of MidDay and now from Bombay Times had been equally understanding and warm in their dealings with us. Ashwin with his first production ‘Ragini MMS’ had requested that I come to wish him for this important day. I did go and wished him,  but did not stay for the film. Just did not feel comfortable attending a celebration when the mind was still trying to cope with the tragedy of Kirit. So I begged to be excused and very understandingly he gave me allowed me to leave after a while, even before the film had started.

But … these days you cannot conduct your life without weighing the probable questions and accusations that the media will throw at you. And sure enough several messages immediately came in on why I did not stay for the film, drawing, and this is the most unwanted part, their own negative conclusions to the episode in order that it may become titillatory and controversial. With the expanse and the number of the media that runs along with you on such occasions, it has now become impossible to dress, say, react, behave in any manner without fearing the consequences that shall be manufactured to erupt. Happily though, the masses have become either immune to such talk or just do not wish to believe it. Which is a bit harsh for the fourth estate. But these are facts, without the help of the much touted ‘sources’, that seem to be nameless influential and terribly omnipresent faculties within this realm. Has anyone ever wondered how ‘sources’ have all the information on everything that transpires around us, and that they are the only ones that are conveniently positioned to obtain, gather and assimilate news ? With the repeated use of ‘sources’ the media is really in a most remarkable position to lead, govern and conduct themselves as that superior power that guides and rules. Which I might add, is relatively not too far away from the truth. For, their opinion and write up is what the mass believes – ‘sources’ and all.

Oh ! And yes … there was a wrap party on the completion of ‘Bbuddah’, why were you not there questions the media. Its like being on that dreaded cage like structure in court, getting grilled by competent lawyers on the matter of very grave consequence. The authority and the deliberation of the information sought, is considered mandatory from some of us. The media if it does get an answer transfers it to the editorial team in the building of their office and next we shall find ourselves at the end of sensational columns in the morning publication !

The media shall move on to their next act. We that have just been pierced with ‘sourceful’ information have to grapple and keep fighting it forever. Oh ! What a difference a day makes !!

I have been appointed to promote ‘Nutricharge’ a tablet that overcomes the short falls of nutrition and was busy doing its promotional shoots from the early morning. It has been quite revealing to know that such products exist and that there are businesses that run around it.

The first reveal promo of ‘Bbuddah’ is ready and shall be out on the 20th I think, along with the IPL game of the day. Meanwhile the print publicity started today and it has had quite a share of response. More shall follow in the days as we move on and I do hope it shall appeal to all of my Ef and those that are with them ..

The Vog, Bachchan Bol as I said earlier has reached a figure of 25.5 lakh subscribers and soon it shall be inaugurated in the UK … and then further on .. let us see how all that goes ..

In keeping with the promotion for the Vog, I did an interview with a prominent journalist of the London Times, who was at Cannes. One of the questions that he asked me was , ” why do you do this ?” and I said to ‘connect to my family’. I do not think that he quite got the significance of what I had stated. Pity !!

My love to all as always ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                       May  12,  2011                                       Thu  3 : 25 Pm

I have just been informed of the sudden passing away of my dear friend Kirit Trivedi in London .. and I am beyond remorse ! A trusted, loyal and devoted companion, a partner with no selfish intent, a human with a golden heart, a go getter .. suddenly gone !

He had been unwell and I had just met him some days back when he was here on a short visit. And even though he was ailing, he never lost the opportunity of wanting to do something novel, exciting and different. Always positive and full of confidence under any circumstances, his very presence would lighten up the air around and fill you up with an energy that was unexplainable.

I met him first in the late 70′s on a private visit to Los Angeles, where he lived. One of Prakash Mehra’s films was on release, I cannot remember which. Those days the overseas market was not as exciting as it is now, and neither was the presence of films and stars. But through some contacts with Prakash Mehra, Kirit had requested if he could bring me along to a cinema theatre where they used to show Hindi films over the week end in most limited capacity.

I was on a private visit, Prakash Mehra asked me to take a half hour out for this trip to the theatre and I agreed. I got the essence of what Hindi cinema meant to the NRI audiences on that visit. It was simply unbelievable. Chaos ruled. The audience went wild, pulling clothing, hair particles anything of mine they could get their hands on. There was no security or the police to manage. Stuck in this wild show of affection and unable to see any hope of extricating myself from it, came a shrill voice of help. A short chubby little man was pulling my arm and dragging me to the exit, yelling the most colorful expletives in Gujarati and succeeding. Out in the open air, there was still no respite. I found myself pushed into a white car – later to discover it was a Rolls Royce – and this short guy diving into the drivers seat and literally taking off ! It was mayhem ! The crowd got into their vehicles and a chase began.

I have never been driven on two wheels of a white Rolls Royce taking sharp turns .. on the wrong side of a Los Angeles highway !! I cannot remember how I got to my Hotel, but we did and in one piece, and when I got off at the porch of the Hotel, my ‘savior’ introduced himself to me .. I am Kirit Trivedi .. followed by some more expletives in Gujarati …!!

We never looked back from that day on – Kirit and I. He became family. He always addressed me as Da, a short for Dada, elder brother and respectfully addressed Jaya as Mama, as in Mother.

It was Kirit that felt the potential of projecting me on stage for stage shows. He pioneered those very first ones way back in 1981 and from then on followed an entire new experience and new ventures. Never one to get strapped down to undoable events, it was his entrepreneurial vision that brought scale dimension and the largeness of stage performances, years before any other could have even thought of it.

It was his ambitious zeal that got me on to Madison Square Gardens in New York, when the management there had rejected him for months, sarcastically taunting him that the venue was fit only for John F Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Mohammed Ali – past performers at this prestigious stadium. But Kirit was Kirit. He just did not admit defeat and finally won. A 12, 000 seater stadium was sold out a month before my performance and Kirit had filled in another 12, 000. On the floor, in the aisles, in the dressing areas … everywhere he sold tickets.

The management, a very austere body of serious looking entertainment giants, was in shock. When asked how he had pulled all this off, by me .. after a few more expletives he cooly replied “promised them a Sony Tv”.

More issues followed during that performance. Knowing the nature of the crowd reactions, he asked the management to get sufficient police protection. They, in usual ‘know it all, done it all’ fashion paid little heed to Kirit’s request and said ‘We’ve had the biggest stars and Presidents here. A couple of cops is all you will require !”.

I am pretty certain Kirit must have subdued a chuckle here, for when the show began and all hell broke loose, the management had to scramble a sizable brigade and some squad cars in utter urgency. Later when the evening was over, he was paged to the office of the MSG and complimented on his achievement.

Before Kirit walked out of their office the Head turned around to him and in hushed whisper asked :

” Er … what did you say was the name of this Indian actor ??? !!”

Kirit was unstoppable. He kept upping the ante every year. Giants Stadium, New Jersey 60,000 people packed in for my show. The most prestigious theaters all over the world were on his map and event after event he kept getting them and succeeding in making history. The West Indies, the Wembley Stadium, London, South Africa’s largest and most honored football stadium just prior to the abolishment of apartheid, and every possible venue were his domain and his inspiration to do bigger and better. Elephants, horses, sports cars, bikes on stage with me. Stage floor opening up and bringing in the largest stretch limousine on top for me to escape from the crowds after the show was over were all his inventions and ideas. Dressing me up and bringing me in close contact with the very best designers in clothing and in every other form that would enhance my image on stage. Introducing me to the best in Hollywood even knowing that I was not interested in doing anything there. The personal care that he took year in and year out will be difficult to replicate. And he had a solution for every problem. Acknowledging his attributes, Barry Marshall that co partnered our Wembley show and himself one of the biggies of the UK in the department, nick named him ‘Mr Fix It !’.

In England for the recording of my first ever album with Bally Sagoo, he would drive me in his left hand car to Birmingham every morning and drive me back late at night to London. I would often tell him it was too strenous for him but he would laugh it off.

‘Don’t worry Da”, he would assure me, “so long as I am there nothing will happen to you”. Dropping me off to my room he would give me his customary hug. His was the warmest hug that I have ever experienced.

Kirit my friend ! Wherever you are, and I know that you are in heaven, thank you for all that you became for me. For being that sincere advisor, that friend in the direst of needs, that companion in the dark days of uncertainty, that firm and steadfast crutch always ready to support my failing woes, to give me that confidence and courage to pursue what you envisioned, to know and believe that certain impossibilities were indeed achievable, but most of all to always be there when I called.

I know that you were most concerned when we last met about the future – the wife, the children and more …

I just want you to know I will be there for them .. just as you were for me !

Amitabh Bachchan

Janak , Mumbai                                            May  11,  2011                                            Wed  10 : 45 PM

When there is too much on the plate, you never know where to start and with what .. a day could well become similar … too much to do and just not knowing where to start and with what .. and when you do start there is that continued feel of all the other that needs to be done .. so it all ends up in neither what you take up working, nor the one you left behind ..

Confusion builds in the mind first, then elsewhere .. this complicated machinery that rides above all else on your body, is the most unique feature of nature. Vulnerable to the elements, yet used often to guide and control them .. battling it would be futile, because even the battle plan would be designed in house .. what does one do then ..? I simply have no answers … so one admits a blank page and paper …

In life allowing the unexpected to remain just that, without any expectation, is a sound and justifiable state to be in. Not knowing what is coming your way, elongates the process of bad news in case it were to be bad and enhances similarly the quotient of the euphoria of the good news. But problems arise when you are remaining neutral. The question of non participation in word or in spirit, becomes a harassing moment in the existence of the concerned individual .. partake and answer why you did, do not and answer why you did not ..

I just love those that are the privileged to ask all the questions and never be asked for a reply or their own opinion. These are exalted beings in more ways than one. They are born with the belief that they are the masters of the world. So they are, and so they shall be, forever. But it is not enough to be in a position to ask. Suffer too the pain and distress of those that are subjected to the ‘ask’. The institution that ‘asks’ is not ever in any state position or legal consideration. They are covered and clothed in constitutional articles and protected by the most dedicated professionals that occupy the same space as them .. Touch one and you have feathered the entire community .. touch two and find your way to the gallows .. !!

In a distracted mind, distraction seems to be the cure. The removed sticker on the wall is the one to be used to remove the stains of the sticker ! Allowing the mind to dwell on what distracted it is a no entry street. Setting up fresh encounters and habitats would be more useful and constructive in any such situation. Some one smashed your car ? Thank you I shall use my bicycle … hadn’t used it in quite a while … an alternative and a physical use ..

It has been an interesting morning afternoon and night … good night !

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                    May 10 , 2011                                  Tue  11 : 40 PM

My envy for those that know music, play music, sing music, arrange music, grows each day that I spend in the company of talent that abounds in our world. I feel I am an incomplete man if I have no knowledge of the craft. This is a frustration of immense proportion and it would take a lot out of me to accept. But as I think back to my days of growing up, of my days of forced study periods, of being pushed to home work and books and isolated moments in their midst, I also remember the whirr of the table fan in those hot summer months and the drone of its running. Its the sonorous singular tone of the movement, of the mechanicals that went into its construction. Its that meter that guides you to sing or thump the desk you sit upon with rhythm. Its a constant. Its the basic chord upon which tunes are built. Its the ‘tanpura’ that sets the tone of the song or instrument, that plays in the back while the musician sets the bars of the music accordingly in front. Its the base grounding of the edifice that the musician shall build upon, yet conscious and knowing of the fact that all notes that shall be manufactured shall have to emanate from that base note and come back to it after travelling all over in its manifestations that cannot differ from it.

Its almost like life itself. Remove your base, your grounding and be prepared to go off tune and horribly out of sync. Stray and perish. Communities, individuals, societies stay together with their own – grounded to the values and principles that they originated from. Live away and be prepared for the change, the adjustment.

Much music and indeed life, survives even when in isolation or without the boundaries of its base. They are brave that are able to achieve this. But you know and so do I that their connect with the origin remains eternal. They may be far away, but the roots forever beckon. No matter how accustomed you may have become to your new surroundings, no matter how well you may have prospered in it, no matter how sincere you may be to your place of present habit, there shall always be that marked and most revered attachment to that plinth where you and yours built their origins from. That earth, that air, that environment will empower the moment you come to its close proximity.

As with life so too with music. A discordant note stands guilty and apart in any composition. You do not have to be a maestro to be able to catch or define one. When it plays wrong, it jars. When it does not synchronize it unsettles you.

Life and its circumstances are no different. All the uncomfortable notes on the scale shall stand apart. All miscued words, stanzas, deliberations shall perpetually be out of tune and synchronization. They shall be harsh on our system and in our minds. And until the scales are set right, until they not brought under the tune agreed upon or upon which the base constructs, there shall be discomfort. Its the strength of the basement that bears the weight and structure of a large building. Unless of course there is divine intervention as in the case of Mazaar- e – Sharief in the northern regions of Afghanistan, a mosque built in memory of the Prophet (PBUH) where it is believed that one of his dear perished, the body of the deceased put on a camel and where it stopped there to build this unusual mosque in ceramic stone. The marvel – it has no base or plinth. Built straight up from ground level, it has been through several earth shake ups but not a stone on it ever got dislodged.

I had been to Mazaar – e – Sharief in Afghanistan during the shooting of ‘Khuda Gawah’ and had personally walked to the premise, from where I was put up, the whole town following, to offer my prayers and to address the people that had assembled outside. The mosque is built in blue ceramic. Majestic and awe inspiring.

We were there to shoot the ‘bushkashi’ sequence in the film – an experience which needs a couple of posts to describe that visit. Some where there are tapes taken by my own staff on video of that historic visit. That visit shall forever remain etched in my memory as one of the most dramatic and exciting. As dramatic and exciting as the ‘bushkashi’ game on horseback, played live on the fields of the region, in a fashion that reminded me of the early films we saw of knights in shining armor, of duels and so Ivanhoe ish !!

Ahh ! we have drifted again … from the strains of music to horseback games … not too far removed I think. Riding a horse is an exercise in rhythm too, is it not … !!

My love,

Jalsa , Mumbai                                        May  9 , 2011                                            Mon 10 : 04 PM

The IPL in front of me … the crowds and the excitement with which each city cheers for their team … the efforts at the crease … the efforts on the field .. hard work, perspiration flowing … flags flying … blue, red, black … the cheer leaders breaking into song and dance in varied costumes .. the ‘hi mom’ screamers on close up television …

Such a deliberation every evening ! And when there is a ‘home alone’ situation, its very welcome .. bring on the couch, put up the legs, get that ‘khus’ cooler, sparse dinner in front of the Tv and … Shanouk protection !!

The dubbing for ‘Aarakshan’ is over ! Wanted to go hell for leather today, worked at it from early morning and then rounded it up after a short break to finish the film. So thats the entire film over in 6 days ! It took 2 months to shoot it ! Movie making !

It now seems probable that ‘Bbuddah’ even though started its shot after the shoot for ‘Aarakshan’ was over, has finished before. And .. now is set to be released before ‘Aarakshan’ too. ‘Bbuddah’ on July 1st, ‘Aarakshan’ on August 12th, my Mother’s birthday ! Two films after a long gap and two very different roles and films. The first a dramatic, fun, film. The latter more intense, topical, and edgy, very sincere and touching, on a topic and subject which many talk of behind closed doors but never outside.

As an actor I feel elated that there is diversity on offer. When you are nearing 70 it does become scarce … the offers. But the challenge that comes by in the offering is immense. There is an opportunity of getting characters to play that may have been not too easy to play when you were younger. Or even if there was an opportunity, the commerce did not allow it.

There is a feeling at times that an actor needs to get an identification with the audience for him to be patronized by them. The audience at times wishes to form its own mind before it gets into the theatre. Perhaps when you surprise them they do not feel too kindly. So what happens to actors that wish to experiment with different genres during the course of their acting careers. I think the commerce becomes restrictive and more often than not actors not wishing to lose their viability or standing prefer to stay true to what worked before and continue to patronize it.

John Wayne, that icon of what American cinema was about, never got off his horse throughout his career. There are very few examples of actors that have played variety and never destroyed their commercial standing. But with age cinema does permit exceptions and they are fortunate that time does not destroy their viability. I think once you establish yourself, it does become a lot easier to change track. It is a risk, but then …

Maybe someday we should debate this with examples .. next time perhaps ..

An early night beckons and perhaps a lazy morning too, so I beg to be excused ..

Have a good night … and a better day

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                                May  8 ,  2011                                         Sun  9 : 39 PM

The early hours of the morning .. anxiously looking at the digital through the pillows. Is it time yet for the alarm to go. Such anticipation every time you set wake up calls. Will it ring will it work, how much time for it to go off. Stupid. Because you have been up the whole night worrying whether it will indeed work or not. And when it finally does you wish it hadn’t. Scramble reluctantly to the wash room, a toothbrush, a splash of the aqua, on with the straps for gymming, the kit on, the watch for heart rate, the sneakers to push you through the tread mill and then drive down to Janak, the office to the machines. Trainer in place, morning first energy drinks down up on tread, stretch, weights, pulls, crunches, back on tread, legs, an ode to the sun, yoga breathing … and off speedily to Prateeksha to keep the time for dubbing. Inside the BR Theatre, chairs mic in place, head phones on, dub sheets in hand .. ok start ..

Get the mood, the intonation … get the sync … get the lines right .. rehearse, sound in earphone, take again, can we hear it … naaahh not good enough, play again please … a couple of hours later, thank you see you in the morrow.

Rushing to car, through the traffic back to office .. on route quick catch up on phone commitments .. the vog, the daily connects to family, the updates to executives … Janak again !

Marketing meet on film ‘Bbuddah’ .. wiz kids of the world of promo making sitting in … long discussions on the story the content the music … decisions taken .. its past noon .. get my breakfast here in office will eat while working ..

Ok quick run in on future projects, timelines, business discussions, pending matters of the accountant and then to Prateeksha to oversee work in progress there .. a bath a prayer and back to Jalsa. Catch up with out standings there .. lunch and then the sad news of the death of dear friend Aadesh Srivastava’s brother in a car accident in USA near Chicago. Had gone on a tour with that wonderful singer Rahat Fateh Ali and was driving with the group from one city to another, when it happened.

Aadesh himself distraught and and shattered, struggling with cancer, uncontrollable misery for him. Calm him down and go across to him. Sad and desolate atmosphere. This talented youngster, now shorn of all his physical attributes because of the chemo .. masked and broken down .. sit with him in consolation .. take Prakash Jha along with me .. he had had Rajneeti music done by Aadesh .. drive back .. difficult to get back into Jalsa … Sunday crowds .. gates open, switch from grief to happiness, smile, wave to the fans, close the doors and contemplate on matters .. make an effort to get distracted by IPL, but it works only

The Sunday crowds and the love and the fans … never can do enough for them, yet they come religiously .. this just when about to to go visit Aaadesh .. Prakash Jha watching  from the back ..

And as the IPL game comes to an end … so does the blog .. a little early today, but tomorrow is another rough day, so an early night with the constant waking up to check the clock and the alarm, would be in order ..

Its  been a disturbing day ..

But love to all ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                    May  7,  2011                               Sat  11 : 11 PM

What a difference a melody makes .. the age of melody in song has long gone by .. today we have sound, and beat and accompaniment but the melody is missing. I speak of the scenario that I work in – the Indian Film Industry !

But when it does come, there is unanimous appreciation. Yet when it comes to composing for a product it is still what according to them, is music. Each generation lives through their individual tastes and choices and likes.  In Sherwood and in School it was Pat Boone and Cliff Richards .. during College Elvis the Pelvis stole our hearts .. after college in employment, it was the madness of the Beatles .. then something went wrong with … suddenly everything began to not be what we wanted it to be … and so a great amount of time was devoted to fusion and international music and electronic and rave and whatever they are known as now. But every time there was melody, it remained. Strong and impressive. And still does. It still does because there are functions within the human body that react behind the skin, and they are generously called ‘goose bumps’ or ‘goose flesh’. Why they are associated with the goose, of all species, I have no idea.

So Shekhar, of Vishal and Shekhar, have composed something that caused each one that heard it, the goose phenomena. And now that it is done comes the improbable part. They want me to sing it ! And this is where things shall go horribly wrong. I am trying to resist this compulsion from them and find myself losing at the moment, but I know for sure that I will remain in that state and lose. May God help all the music purists in bearing up with me and for overlooking this great farce that is about to take place over the weekend.

Music is an integral part of our lives, our being and our existence, irrespective of what the others may have to say on the subject. It lifts, cajoles, caresses, envelopes you in a bind which never leaves you. A piece heard at an impressionable age remains with you for a life time. Music and song collectively is a force, which has serious physical ramifications. We have heard of the great Tansen stories and the effect his music had on weather conditions. We have seen strong and sharp classical music notes and chords, demolish glass and shatter it to pieces. We have seen and heard the power of religion when it encompasses the rituals that connect it to sound. The prayer meetings of different faiths – the ‘bhajans’ the ‘azaan’ and the hymns bring a  feel of religiosity. Strengthening belief with its repeated recitation. The Gods are pleased it seems when they are sung to. Music has the power to impress them to. And of course I miss mentioning the singing of Anthems and the fervor of patriotism it invokes. Your own anthem of your own country does something to us. It instills in us a sense of belonging. This is my land, my country, my flag and my anthem. I belong to it, and it belongs to me. That is a lot to be said about any other music heard.

There is that other little matter of football and the singing crowds and the belief that the energy of collective singing shall most certainly move mountains, or least of all a goal in favor of your home team. The beauty of all this being that the singing invariably gets carried along from the playing field to the nearest bar for most of the day. Sometimes many days !! And when it does it may not all turn out to be pleasant.

So …. melody ! And the strange effect it has on our psych irrespective of age and place and moment .. !!

May what we have discussed on the basis of what was recorded today, be prime and lasting and appreciative ..

With my love ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                        May 6,  2011                                  Fri  11 : 43 PM

When you want and desire and get, the want and desire diminish. When you want to have a break and rest to catch up with many out standings, you find yourself not taking any rest at all and none of the out standing work being attempted even to be addressed.

Today’s predicament has been that. The shootings are over for a few days. Time is now being concentrated on the dubbing of films and there are limitations of on that. What has taken months of labor to execute in pristine conditions, cannot possibly be addressed within a few hours in conditions which are most certainly not conducive to the original. Its like acting twice in a film. Once in its original form and the other in a form which has no support at all from outside.

In our lives too, the support from outside is elusive and hard to get. What we manage on our own through our own effort is what we shall get, finally. The boxing ring ! Remember ?

But apart from that, when the day is filled with expectation and hope from other sources, it certainly covers up well. It would not be prudent or even permissible to talk about what else has transpired, but suffice to say that I am pleased with what indeed has.

My VOG as many know functions in India for the moment, but there are preparations on now for taking it into the beyond – to the United Kingdom and in time other countries. When the apparatus is ready and flourishing the information shall come thy way.

The responses on the blonde and those connected with the adrenalin rise were indeed remarkable. Of course there has been no attempt to make any deliberate derogatory comment to some of the blondes on the EF, but I think we are all mature enough to understand the light heartedness behind it.

The reactions to the pictures on KBC have been ranging from complimentary to the sensuous ! Ha ha ! I acknowledge the former and desist from acknowledging the latter. Sony shall be mighty pleased to hear of all the brouhaha on this, but I guess they all know what we are doing and where this programme is to be aimed at.

I am in great admiration of this younger generation, in its capacity to address and execute any issues that may and do arise during the course of our daily lives. What has been most revealing has been the calmness with which each one of this lot has addressed their preferences in life, been able to say and give what they felt needed to be said and done. My own time at their age was an example of an individual who was unaware of anything. How I marvel at the accumen that these young possess in matters which would have thrown us asunder in our time. How confident and acclimatized they are to whatever happens around us. How well they know what they are doing and where they are going. How beautifully they shall go about it in almost faultless fashion to achieve what they set out to do.

At their age, we were – or let me be more personal – I was, a wreck, an absolute mess. Had no idea what the world was about, how things functioned and how people behaved. I still do not. I am a classified naiveté. And in all probability as time goes by and I encounter greater challenges, I shall remain one ! Dumb, unfamiliar and ignorant !

One has grown up believing, that if the work that is done is good and appreciated, then it does not require us to be shouting about it from every roof top. This generation feels just the opposite. They say unless you scream about it no one is interested. And even though the screaming may be of a limited quality, quite obviously, the outcome remains the same. The screaming and shouting may have a limited life, but they say that that is all that is really required in the first place. No one wants able posterity, a posterity that shall look upon us with envy. No, that is not the priority. Its how soon and how much ! And then over and out to the next.

I have always believed that if the work is capable, it is undoubtedly going to be noticed. And if it has merit, it shall prosper. No amount of deliberate pushing shall ever have any effect on it. I can push it to the proverbial water, but whether I am thirsty enough for a drink is unknown. This is sufficient for me. Not just in its functioning but also in my belief. Not so with the young of today. It needs for them to be in your face till you have no other option to observe it. Likes and dislikes aside, so long as it has made a place in your ‘face’, it is enough.

Maybe the young have a philosophy that compels them to be so. Maybe they do not. I would not have an answer. But they somehow do. And looking at the way life moves and is moving for them, it seems as though they are right and we are hopelessly wrong !

For us here in India this has to be reviewed with a great amount of seriousness. The largest percentage of mass is in the age group of 16 to 35. A young nation, or as the commercial for a cola describes, a youngistan ! Be young with them, do young with them, say young with them and we are safe. If not be prepared to be left in the lurch.

These are harsh facts. But time and history has always been this. The old gives way to the young, until another young takes over from the previous. The old were young too and perhaps brought with them at their time the nature of their life the way they sought it. Now they are almost irrelevant. Not in the sense of being depraving. But in a sense of allowing nature, history and geography to take over, all at once.

Blessed are they that endure and accomodate the circumstances … I try too … but am not sure if I am making any sense … to them and to those that come with them … so help me God !

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                        May 5, 2011                                       Thu  10 : 09 PM

Aksa Beach on Madh Island … a morning idea of a shoot for the film ‘Bbuddah’ … just some mood shots to catch the atmosphere, to catch the breeze, to catch a 70 year old in motion at 45 frames per second .. hot and humid, sparse atmosphere, the few onlookers on the beach relatively uninterested and memories of a Lilliputian pony brought from Pune for the shoot of AmarAkbarAnthony, by that master of fantasy, Mr ManMohan Desai.

Ha ha ..

As distributors of the film in Mumbai at the time, there was that constant desire to be involved in the film beyond just being an artist. As a film it did some amazing commercials – I think if I am not wrong, 25 weeks in 25 theaters in Mumbai alone, was its running spell and more thereafter.

But on the Aksa beach it was the shooting of the song from the film ‘Humko tumse ho gaya ..’ with Parveen Babi and a small specially constructed ‘tonga’ with the Lilliputian pony pulling it. Every time we would rehearse on the moving vehicle, all went well. But as soon as we were ready to take the shot, and start the camera, the pony would turn the other way and run in the opposite direction. And as an interested party, I was not just singing and trying to woo the attention of my leading lady, but also trying to woo the attention of the Lilliputian – also a lady !!

After several attempts were aborted, we finally decided to play hooky with dearest pony and placed a fake camera in front of her, knowing she would turn the other way, and placed the real one in the direction of her turning. Smart eh ! And .. er… the Lilliputian was not a blonde !!

Running at 70 is a bit of a bother ! You feel you can move with some fluidity, but no ! The legs do not respond to what the mind is telling it to do and you suddenly realize that the weight of your body is not that lithe anymore. So as I sit down on my ‘blogespherechair’ to fill in my adventures, I am cushioned with hot water bags and electronic heating devices to ease out the the numerous folds of muscles, that had remained dormant and in retirement for a very long time.

Soon after it was the adrenalin pumping beast bike, the Harley ‘twixt my legs. And what a monster it is. I have to say though that having done it, and for the first time, it is an experience that now coerces me to have one of my own. OOOOO ! Baby !! It is another world as you stride all the leather and studs and white metal that surrounds you. Quite something !

What is it with men and the sound of a mean machine. The roar of a speed car, the rush of air and sound in a double exhaust bike, that kick of acceleration as you push the pedal flat, that jerk of change on the Concord, when it was functional, as it went from normal to Mach 3 at 55, 000 feet in the air ! Is it the same with the ladies too ?

I am happy that the pictures made you happy. I just felt I messed up in the size factor. Should have printed a smaller size. May be I should do it now. Ok ! Shall do so -

Its been an early night today … just as well … I shall get to rest for a while longer, for, tomorrow its back to the grind with the most difficult part of film making from an artists point of view, the dubbing of film.

And oh yes … forgot … there are some visitors coming in tomorrow to meet and discuss future plans .. I wonder how that will go ..

” Actors don’t retire. They just get offered fewer roles. ”

Love and hope and more …

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                  May  4, 2011                      Wed  11 : 50 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, herewith the shoot look for the KBC to start by August 2011, preparations for which start sooner than what I had imagined. This is designed by Rohit Bal, the young celebrity in the world of fashion who has alawys been flamboyant and has had a way with colors.

Rohit … or ‘Gudda’ as his pet name beckons him … a dear friend from the time when he was a little kid, running around in shorts in his house in Srinagar. His parents, my parents, his sisters and us all close family. Had stayed with them in Srinagar during one of our early holiday visits, when I was still working out of Kolkata and since then have seen the growth of this very talented youngster in the field he enjoys most – design ! How times change and how soon they pass .. Such warm and endearing memories of all our visits to the ‘heaven on earth’ Kashmir, but now such a distant dream.

It has been a struggle this entire day. Struggle to keep up with schedules and timings and commitments. But enjoyable all the same. After that rather long mushy piece on work and ethics and energy yesterday, I would imagine there could be no debate or disapproval on the business of work. So there …

We were shooting the promos for KBC at the same house which was used for the shoot of ‘Paa’, the house of Paresh Rawal and Abhishek. Such a delight to find this architectural delight in the middle of high rise concrete jungles all around. And most of it still restored the way it was when it was. Most of these properties are either under litigation or dispute. I cannot say for this particular one, but thank god for the legal constraints. At least nothing happens to the structure until the courts settle. So in a way the architecture is saved from being bought over by some real estate developer and building a massive 40 storied apartment tower ! Ironically, the house is called ‘Camelot’. Indeed !!

The dub for ‘Aarakshan’ started too and a sizable amount of work was done in the few hours devoted to it in the morning. Dubbing has been such an art by itself. It can make or break ones performance. For, what is dubbed is the final performance. This is the version that the audiences see, now pristine in its reproduction as opposed to the sound and feel of the shot when it was enacted in front of the camera. Syncing the emotion the words the feel of the moment, isolated in front of a mike is not an easy task. But do, we must and hope and pray that the original sound is replicated in its entirety. Many a performance has been destroyed by an inaccurate dub. In a sense when we dub, we are in fact enacting two films. When a scene is enacted it is perhaps the only scene for the entire day. There are props and location and co artists and their contribution to the scene. But here now, sitting in front of a screen watching yourself and trying your best to duplicate for the final print is a most daunting task.

Laughter, emotion, tears, crying or weeping are the most difficult to match. It never comes right and I have always felt that a great amount of the real is lost when we dub. There have been times though when the dubbing has been sacrificed because it would harm the scene. I have several examples of my own experience. The temple scene in ‘Deewar’, the death scene of Om Prakash in ‘Sharaabi’ and on … just not dubbed because it would not have been possible for me to replicate it correctly. The sound recordist disagrees, they insist on dubbing to give the right balance and quality of all other sounds. Then they in their expert disposition shall sit and treat the sound, make it conducive to the large screen, add their own technical highlighters and make that moment more attractive.

There are now great exponents of audio technology and finesse who can enhance a scene, a moment, through the guile they posses of the sound system and really make one look good and healthy. Much like what technology is doing to other aspects of our lives. Song recordings too have now been revolutionarised and it is perhaps now become the most visited area by artists because they have all become singers – through the assistance of the system which repairs off key sounds and brings them all in one very magical mode. Yours truly included !!

I am off now because I need to get sufficient rest before the start of another hectic day …

I shall remember you all in my dreams .. provided I get some … and wish and pray that you remain happy and prosperous.

My love for you as ever …

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                           May  3,  2011                                           Tue 10 : 44 PM

In work there is energy. In its execution there is energy. When work and occupation mingle well, energy wins. Breasts the tape in one big rush. A gusto that can only be imagined and understood by the one that relishes its existence within him. Remaining complacent, down and trodden, helpless, forgotten, devoid of action is a state one never wishes for anyone. Yet there will come time when all of this shall be thrust upon us in a large wave of undiluted surf and those that shall know the wave, know the current, know the balance shall be the ones that shall ride it and not just survive, but make the event artistic.

I rode several waves in my short life. There shall be without any doubt or dispute, many more storms and strong currents to battle. To say that it shall be impossible to face them now after age has roughed you up, is a defeat. I find it easier to write about it than to be in a position to face it in practical terms. I am hesitant to commit, to aspire, to be defined in the pursuit of my will. And I really would not know how it would all turn out even if I did know. What I do know is that commitment to work, indulgence in its execution, the strife for perfection when displayed, shall find favor. Not that one clamors for it. But if it were to come by I should and would accept it, in whatever shape or form. That is a resolve. Resolves at times falter and give way. Better to quietly do the work assigned and move on. Moving on is prime. Stagnate and stagnation shall become your password. Sleep is a necessity. Stretch it and its a disease. Stagnation and sleep in an anomaly !!? No not quite. The reference is to sleep being almost stagnant.

‘Sona marne ka rehearsal hai .. ‘  my Fathers very short verse. ‘Sleep is the rehearsal for death, which mankind hesitates on, before coming on stage’.

Is it just me or … whenever one gets off after driving a fast moving car, a bike, a horse .. one gets within, that little extra adrenalin. That energy of being able to handle any situation … any !! Your mode of speech and posture undergo a machoism, hitherto unknown or unheard of. Suddenly the world seems a world at large and you its dedicated conquerer. There is a stride of confidence in whatever needs to be done ; a sense of fulfillment, freedom, perhaps a walk some inches above the normal ! A brash casualness overtakes you. Your countenance acquires a look of one that breathes servility from the other. The tone of speech and manner become higher than your own given status.

It is in order then to live and experience it. But to adopt it in permanence is certainly not recommended.

I lived with it for a few hours this evening. I drove a sports convertible for the shot at great speed, got off it and smoothly shifted bag and baggage to the black and silver Harley Davidson, immense in weight and style, but powerful, large and difficult to handle when stationary. And you drive home in your cocooned back seat travel wondering did I really conquer the world a short while ago ?

Barring any mishaps, ‘Bbuddah’ will complete in another week. For the others , not for me. I am done. I now look forward to its final completion, its post production, its music, marketing, and final editing. Its release and its results. It looks like it shall be the 1st of July. Its been quick and financially brave and conservative. Another down and more to start work on as soon as possible.

Working in some continuity, in daily commitment shall bring the energy. Do not ask where I get my energy from. Its rude, its destructive. Just give me the work. That is it !

Love

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                    May 2 , 2011                                      Mon 11 : 59 PM

As you shoot at the IMax Wadala for ‘Bbuddah’, news breaks of the killing of OBL. And all the tv channels are full of nothing but that. Expected. He has been wanted by the USA for a very long time, and yesterday they got him. Many questions shall arise. Right from his location to the repercussions, to the way forward, to what next …

There are going to be a great many questions that shall need to be addressed. And all one can say at the moment is that greater days of vigilance and care are necessary.

The IMAX was built to house … well … just that ..a large screen . I do not know whether it is still functional, but it is a very large facility and does have all the required ingredients to make it most prestigious and event friendly location. Why many of my responsible films have had their premier at this locale -Sarkar, Black, Paa , to name a few. The days of the premier are fast evaporating. What a moment of excitement they used to be. Mostly conducted either at Minerva or Metro. Thousands of onlookers, jammed streets, enthusiasm among the fans … now all gone. Now the artist or the star is reachable. There are not too many communication ingredients that existed then. The masses were starved of seeing or being in close proximity to their favorites. Not any more. Everyday fresh and new inventions flood the market place, not with the intention of deliberately making the stars familiar with, but to state that invention is an evident phenomena. It cannot be ignored or side stepped in todays time. Sidestep and be sidelined !!

Marketing is and has become the main tool of films its makers and of course the product itself. Nothing moves today without the consultation of the gurus of  public relations. I loathe the process. I am uncomfortable beating my own drums. But everyone else says it is the norm today in todays times. If you do not talk about yourself, nobody is willing to talk for you. Which in a creative field is somewhat faint -

‘So did you get to see my film. I have done a most incredible number in it’ !!

‘Call me at this number, answer some select questions and win a prize – a car, a fridge, tickets to a recent movie ..’

‘We are here sitting atop the Eiffel Tower, taking in Paris and asking you to go in large numbers to my film in India..’

‘I personally think this has been my best performance till date. Wonder what will happen tomorrow ?’

And on and on and on ….

I am unable to talk about myself, leave alone talk about how many credits I possess. How can one ? Where do they get the courage to put themselves in such a position. This world is unknown to me.

But …. all the young tell me otherwise. If you will not, no one will. General appraisals that bring about a fair degree of self assessment shall of course prevail. But perhaps not the other one.

I may post a picture on my blog or on my twitter and be flooded with comments that only speak of how promotional I am getting. Why can they not understand that I could be genuinely interested in speaking. Good bad indifferent is not the point, just sharing something without intent.

Ah ! But the age of genuine comment has long been lost. Accumen, intelligence and all else, has become a dependent. They are no longer our valuable assets, they are now being termed as severe liabilities. Many a time a piece posted in deep thought and reflection gets buried in unresponsiveness.

There are many in my EF who are exceptional in their content. What they are able to see and judge is exceptional. I never fail to read as many as I can, before turning away for the day. What they say lingers for long. Finds appreciative audience when shared. Changes our perspective, and gives us a view never seen before. That truly then is the main course of this platform …

May this be understood and practiced …!!

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                         May 1, 2011                                       Sun 11: 30 Pm

May the first, labor day, a day for the workers, a day for Maharashtra and Gujarat, a day when work is not allowed. And so a holiday in many respects. But the mind and the body shall and does become restless for it. It is now at a stage of our life, when nothingness is the greatest ailment. To be up in the morning and have nothing to do, but idle. Idleness can kill and does on many spheres. So the ‘mantra’ subscribed is that we should be occupied. Occupied in any thing. But occupied.

My Vog, Bachchan Bol now expands its extent. It incorporates many more facilities than it did earlier. There are now some features that shall give an opportunity to those that wish to speak to me to speak to me. It shall give time for me to listen in to your questions and perhaps have opportunity to answer them personally and directly. Soon and I hope its sooner, there shall be facility to video converse, or at least for me to send out to you the messages or ideas or conversations that we have with each other. Hopefully this shall grow stronger from time to time and give us reason to believe that we connected with the others at our will.

There is to be an expansion in other countries as well. Next month it is Great Britain, UK and then hopefully even more countries. In time I would like to believe this blog shall become redundant. It would have gone way passed its scientific early inventions. I do not know how good that would be, but with invention you never know.

There are some Ef members who face the struggle of loved ones being separated, ill and in conditions that do not promise better times. We must think of them in our prayers. Hardship and illness do take away from us the freedom of the way life needs to be lived – with laughter and a smile. And that can only be countered by how we would want to accept it and react to it.

There are rumblings of discontent among all of us on how the blog should be treated. That there should be a code of conduct within, where the will and the wisdom of the conduct should be put to test, judgement passed and a uniformity introduced. I hear those that express this. I will not shun those that wish to express their mind, but shall commensurate with what they wish to lay down.

This space was made form fresh air, free expression and freedom. Any attempt by me or any other to lay down distinct regulation, shall be defeatist in attitude. I am not the conductor of this philharmonic. Its a symphony that plays on its own, and plays it well. If I had the capacity and the will to destroy the conductors stick, that little inconsequential element guiding an entire mass of very professional and efficient musicians, then there would be something wrong with my will. No ! I shall and will not interfere with the basics of this platform – a basics that has brought us all together. Giving it space and time and adjudication through rigid principlies and rules would break the very essence of this platform. It would wrench me dry.

I did not come here to make a family. I came here because it brought me closer to you. Wanting to redesign this utility was and shall never be on the cards, even for a gentle consideration. When you gave me reason to believe that you were no less than family, I invented the suggestion. I would have been equally happy if the Ef had not been formed, for, I was never looking upon it as some kind of a attempt to militarise the situation. Militarise ? Yes .. to bring in certain operatives, rules, discipline. No ! That was never my intention and it shall never be one either.

It was indeed your desire to be accepted as one that has made this platform so strong and successful. And that is how I wish it to remain. When there is great love, there is equal envy and suspicion. I do not think that to be bad. It merely throws up the discussion on to a different topic and plain. You shall envy because somewhere you have given the acceptance that the one you envy is superior. Else why would it be of any interest. Grudges and envy, jealousy and the penchant for one up man ship, destroy your metabolism. Save it ! Why must it be wasted and damaged. Its preservation is what shall stand you in good stead, in good time !

Its been a moment of great pride for me today. Apart from some interesting meetings, the crowds on Sunday and subsequent contemplative efforts, there has been the joy of constructive contribution. Constructive not in the sense it may have been used, but in constructive in a passive sense, by being a part of a moment of creativity, and feeling honorable about it. Could be a strain of music, a passage of well written verse, a visual … or just perhaps a film !

Whatever it has been, shall soon I hope be in demonstration. And then perhaps it would be time for another charged discussion. But till then we wait patiently. Knowing its capacity and strength, but not allowing it to be wasted.

Good Night dearest ones .. may all of you have pleasant dreams … not quite like the ones that the now Duchess of Cambridge had before her wedding ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Jalsa , Mumbai                                          April  30 ,  2011                                      Sat  11 : 00 PM

Why is it that every time you finish a particular work it dawns on you a couple of days later that you could have done it better ! The song for ‘Bbuddah’ that we have been shooting for is finally over. And as you reminisce, what transpired during these last four days, you wonder whether what has been done is in fact correct or to my best ability. Its almost a curse like situation, because you never seem to enjoy or appreciate the work done.

I shall therefore take into consideration the fact that the work was mediocre. But that does not help at all. Because you also have a penchant for not being associated with mediocrity. Fixed then in a situation you wait I guess till the results are known and to judge for yourself the strength of our calibre.

The work is not going to be possible to explain, though Shankar and friends did come over to the set today. I do hope better sense shall prevail with them and they shall not divulge anything that could take away the surprise element. I hope you are reading this Shankar. It was a pleasure meeting up with you, to have first hand knowledge of the social and charitable work that you have undertaken and also to apologize to you for not being able to see you off. But I was so busy drying my clothes of sweat and retouching my make up before sitting down for a meal that by the time it was all over, you had left for the airport and back to Dubai. Thank you for your gifts and thank you for initiating a social work that shall benefit all of society.

A Sunday tomorrow .. May the 1st… labor day .. but really a day when all routine shall be long broken. Getting up at leisure, lounging around without any reason, and watching some scintillating cricket at the IPL. It shall also mean spending a good bit of time cleaning up and clearing many outstanding chores. The most important being writing back to the responses that respond and twittering back to those that have twittered me. There is also now activity being initiated for the VOG and soon I should be in a position to update you on that.

The yawns are getting more frequent and the limbs are aching to be bedridden, but the mind wishes to stay on and converse and write to those that wait and anxiously enjoy this little moment of theirs on this medium. And so shall it be. Tomorrow would be a wonderful day to exchange thoughts, but we all have different lives to live and that must never be destroyed. Still an endeavor shall be made.

I desire to share some pictures over the days gone by … but now is not the time … now is the time to settle and rest and maybe later there shall be opportunity to spend more time at ‘photoshop’ and ‘shoot’

My love and warmth ..

Amitabh Bachchan