NY NY 10021, USA May 4/5, 2013 Sat/Sun 12 :45 PM
The revolution of the mobile phone has changed our live styles completely. There is no doubt that though the print media is prominent and universal and greatly looked forward to, there is a certain sincerity that has now built up gradually towards new inventions ; inventions that have not just simplified our daily lives but have become inseparable elements of our personal private and ‘cannot-do-without’, possessions ….
OOOoooohhhhhh dear dear meeee !! I had tucked my laptop as a substitute for my pillow, for some strange reason, and dozed off … it is now coming up to 7 in the morning of the 5th day of May in the year of the western ‘samvat’ 2013 … and I am filled with remorse and embarrassment and so many other related feelings for having caused this unpardonable error on my part … I do apologise for this and am hastening to rush in a few words, before I am overcome with what ever is left over of my nightly ssslllumbeeerrr … err .. slumber !! Gosh I am already sleep slurring !!
Sooo … back to mobiles and … well their incredible importance and now the need in our lives. Whatever did we do and survive when they were not around ! Guess with each new invention that has affected our lives has brought on this question. There has been that concerted effort by the human to discover find and employ a device that shall ease our routines, our thinking, our working processes, every living moment of our lives. This has to be looked upon as that most coveted mental desire within us - how can I find an easier way to do what I have doing all along ! And every time the thought has crossed the cells that constitute the most complicated mechanism of the human, the brain, the ultimate computer now, a process has begun which has aimed to construct, develop and make applicable, a machinery that mirrors us with the short cuts available.
There is not a single visual that one observes as one drives or walks down any path in any corner of the world, where our exceptional race is not glued on to this rectangular object of our utmost desire, looking, speaking, pushing, sliding on to it !!!
Our greatest companion, our most loved possession has slowly but surely displaced all other unions and found a permanent habitat on the being of the human. We have stopped conversing to the degree we did in the past. We talk to our ‘smarty’ or ‘androidy’ now. We feel hold and touch the others of our species, not to the same degree as we do now of this vital organ, the ‘nokiisamsungeeblackberried’ life belted saviour, that we strap around us in all kinds of weather !
In a bus, on a train, in a car travelling … in private meetings, dining invites, movie watchings, showering, televisioning, performing, professioning … there is not a moment when we have not referred to this four sided, parallel lined on two sides contraption, that has with a piece of a small chip, thinner, shorter in size, less saltier version of the Lays in packed bags adorning most kitchens, given us the finest company that many may have enjoyed in all their lifetime.
Human watching or observation has become obsolete. We are busy cranking our necks down to ‘androidy’ than just being blank in public space, looking out at no where or nothing - a practice we often indulged ourselves in in the past.
Our ease of ready and instant information has not just surprised those who accompany us at times, but even ourselves. Our memory systems have been brutally done away with, by ol’ ‘smarty’. It is difficult to remember our own mobile numbers ! They are thankfully available to us on our own contact list !!
Where does all this end ! Who knows and perhaps, some may say, who cares !!
Human relationships seek presence on your email, sms, whatsApp, contacts ! Their presence in your life, or rightly the importance of their presence in your life, is determined by these systematised operatives on your ‘rectangle’.
Meet and make a new friend - hang on, I shall just put your contact on my list. That is the confirmation of your deepest emotion. You have it on contact - close association. You do not have on list - not worthy of keeping.
Cometh the day when we are beckoned by the Old Man Upstairs in the Heavens … there is grief and sadness … but there is an act too of opening the contact list on rectangle to ‘delete’ the name presence !!
The spoken common lingo in Mumbai, often refers to a death not by the more moderate aesthetic civilised expresion -” he or she have passed away, or that we have lost them ” but by the expression ‘vo OFF ho gaye’ - they have been put OFF - to make a bad translation of that Hindi expression !
In time, I imagine, would that expression be replaced by -
“Just DELETED from my list” ??
My love as ever, and my sincere apologies for the ‘post’ delay … and my most grateful thanks to the sincere efforts of the Ef to have travelled miles and through extenuating circumstances, to come by and meet me .. you are loved and admired always ..
Amitabh Bachchan
NY 10021 NYC, USA May 3, 2013 Fri 12 :45 PM
The cast crew photo op at the premiere, which I described in last night’s Blog … sent to me by Moses Sapir … wonder where he collects all these from ..
In order from left to right as you see the photo :
Doug and Lucy Fisher( Producers for Warner’s ), Catherine Martin ( CM, wife Baz, designer of the film ), Toby Maguire, AB, Leonardo DiCaprio, Baz Luhrmann, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher … and 2 others who I do not have names for …
Love to all … meeting some Ef in a while ..
Amitabh Bachchan
Ny 10021 Nyc, USA May 2/3, 2013 Thu/Fri 12 :12 AM
Premiers are daunting experiences ! They always have been, with me. And they are so because much like any other public appreciation or public presence moment, the fear of ignored noticeability, recognition and the criticism of non performance, haunt one before and after !
It may sound odd, but remunerative presence has always been an issue. Once commerce steps in, the obligated demand is compellable. This erases natural and unrehearsed nature. There is demand for performance, because there is a commercial that has been taken into consideration. What I do, where I do it and how, gets abducted by them that have paid for it.
As a professional I would imagine these considerations would sound abnormal to an outsider, but I am tempted to converse on the subject.
There are times when the object of the deal has failed, that a sense of guilt creeps in. If I have been remunerated for a particular employ, and that employ fails, then the balance required tilts heavily on the side of them that employed us. Many though never look at this with any concern or emotion at all. It is very cut and dry. I was paid to work, I worked, job done, thank you. There is no concern for the outcome of the job. If the job does well, well then I deserved it, indeed, I deserve more ! If not successful, then, having given my time energy and creativity for a given amount of time is what I was paid for in the first place. Take the money and run. Will consider the next if there is a next, supported of course by suitable commerce !
My minuscule presence in ‘The Great Gatsby’ has been done with a sense of a friendly gesture towards the man one has admired as a maker, and so there is no commercial consideration. What commerce can one consider for work for a single day ! The opportunity of working with great talent in a most prestigious production, was enough incentive.
So now, what transpires is that any further ‘requirement’ gives me the comfort of not facing the pressure of commercial commitment.
As I therefore prepare to face the ‘red’ carpet, many such thoughts race through the mind.
‘How does it really matter, I have done this free of cost, and on my insistence.’ That sword of forced commitment does no longer hang above my rather precarious head .. everything else that follows after, follows similar principle. This, then is a position of comfort for me.
One obligation over, the question of guilt removes itself too. And that to me, is a comfortable situation. So by argument then, why is there apprehension or even an inkling of doubt that raises itself within.
That … is the nature of apprehension among those that can be termed as creative, and those that have the gall to put up their creativity for judgement … a judgement by the masses, one, which to me, is the most comprehensive and honest.
It is of value to have honesty on your side. But to accept honesty from the other ? Is that acceptable too ? It should be. If not then we are not qualified to be in the category that we are considered to be.
As the cars and security detail and escorts guide you along the winding, slow moving traffic through the Park, thoughts such as these run systematically through the mind.
The event is alien. It is not in my country, or in surroundings which have been familiar to me. I am the only caste creed region coloured individual in the project. I am playing out of my depth - an alleged principal Jewish figure connected to or operative of what is commonly called the ‘mafia’. And my appearance is smaller than small …
The expected reaction as I would step out to an event in India, is now minused. There will be no recognition among the audiences that follow and watch, which to me seems good, for then I can quietly slip away without being noticed or more importantly, instantly judged !!
The crowds at the venue are noticeable now. From my tinted window I recognise the familiar settings, cameras, people, barriers, security, albeit more efficient than what one has been coerced to expect, on occasions similar at home ..
The most disturbing feel has always been to be presented in the ambience of recognition, but not get it. So as your car drives up to the ‘point’ of disembark it is seen that attention is drawn by all those that go to make attention possible. Security takes vital positioning expecting wild crowd reactions, organisers drift into position to behold their invited ViP .. the doors open and you step out … !!
‘No … this is not the important person … who is he ?’ … cameras and faces turn away .. you look as though you have been sighted as kill by a predator .. unmoving, not knowing where to go or who to acknowledge. You pretend to look or feel that you are unaffected by all this, move in normal invitee fashion on … and … THEN … it happens … !!!
Your name .. screamed out through pent up excited devotees, rents the air .. several others join in … beyond the barriers attention drawing well wishers, plead for a shake of a hand an auto graph … pictures of posters wave in the air … the shouting continues … a few faces somewhat astonished by all this turn around .. a few cameras turn too … and THAT is the moment …
The event has been taken over by your own … your own people, your extended family, and so vociferous is their presence that it has forced the unconcerned to get concerned …
As you acknowledge the fans, walk up to them to sign their autographs, shake their hands, wave to the nearest and the farthest perched atop the balconies of adjoining buildings … those that had turned away, turn back .. a smile of astonished contentment overtakes their faces .. they look at you with fresh interest … those Tv anchors that awaited the real stratospheric stars, now begin to thrust their ‘utensils’ in your direction ..
” The scream that went up as you entered … we thought Leonardo had arrived … how does it feel to have so many fans of yours here at this venue ” …
Their refrain does not stop .. their questions are filled with just wonder and awe .. an almost in denial attitude … ” no ooo … this is not happening surely !!”
Speaking to them and answering their hasty questions is now blown away by the loud chants of the fans and the Ef … the banners astonish the interviewers … dour looks have been transformed into smiling welcoming wonder .. the longer I stay the more the requests from the Ef and all those that have so graciously collected .. my waves and words of gratitude do not reach them I think .. they are at some length, but not distant enough from my love and gratitude .. I wish to prolong my stay there and do … Baz Luhrmann who watches this from his appearance on the ‘black’ carpet, rushes up to me .. we embrace, greet, wish each other, and then holding Baz turns to the screaming Ef and screams back - ‘he’s the greatest !’ .. embarrassed, I return his compliment back to him … this continues for a while, until the ‘handlers’ literally push us to move to the waiting area of the theatre, the ‘green room’ ..
The smiles from unknown faces has increased appreciably … inside the restricted area for the cast and crew some greats, drift into animated excited conversation, strong chest thumping bear hugs and laughter, conscious of the branded champagne that quivers in their hands, through delicate vessels … Warner’s heads spot us, compliment, exult on the film, introduce celebrity and move on … CM, Catherine Martin Mrs Baz Luhrmann and the creative director of the film, warmly greets us, Baz joins in, Jay-Z with the largest smile among the guests, rushes by and is invited for an introduction … Jennifer Lawrence, tall and attractive, best actress Oscar winner for the year extends her hands for a greeting through Baz .. in a corner surrounded by many Toby and Leonardo spotted, they greet me warmly .. hugs and embraces ‘great to see you buddy’ whispers Leonardo in the ear .. ‘after the after party I have called some friends over, come, we ‘ll chat have a drink ’ .. then informs me of the location which, because of the noise I do not comprehend and forget .. just some restaurant on 14th Street remains with me … handlers come rushing in again herding the cast and crew for a photo opportunity .. all the main stars and Baz line up against a large poster of the film .. I modestly stand away .. Toby and Leonardo beckon me to join in … I sheepishly creep in to the far end at the back … Toby and Leonardo make space between them up front and command me to stand there … generous … being ushered into the theatre now … large spacious Opera auditorium of the Lincoln Centre … 3500 capacity .. I had been there before, as a performer not an audience .. it was the 100th anniversary of my Father’s celebration by the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan .. had recited some of my Father’s works .. the place is packed to the rafters, buzz and anxious interested looks all around, searching for the stratospheric stars of the world of Hollywood … a few reminder dim lights and then Baz on the impromptu stage in front of the makeshift screen .. makeshift because the theatre does not have a screen .. it is made for Orchestra and Opera .. starts hesitantly on the making and the influence of F Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic book, ending with a dedication to the city of New York, which formed the back drop of this historic tale .. film starts and huge applause and yelps when Leonardo appears for the first time in a close up … applause again when the end titles roll, and then efficient personnel lead you out from back doors and alley ways of the Centre to waiting cars and drive you down to the after party at the Plaza Hotel by the Park, where all the cast have been put up … large ballroom decorated on the 1920’s fashion in keeping with the atmosphere of the ‘speak easy’ in the film … the ‘speak easy’ where my minuscule scene takes place .. music and dance performances of the 20’s, crushed space, oodles of humanity … I wish Baz and leave, a few unknown faces come up and compliment my performance … compliment ? ummff .. there was hardly any ‘form’ at all, forget the pre ‘per’ and the later ‘mance’ ..
Early morning today calls from Delhi and Mumbai and the huge internet coverage of the evening … Shweta and Abhishek keen to know how it all went … Shweta furious at me for not taking up Leonardo’s invitation for the after party after the after party on some 14th Street … happens …
Thank you all for all …. and thank you Lord for all that you do for me ..
Amitabh Bachchan
NY 10021 NYC, USA May 2, 2013 Thu 4 : 30 PM
What can I say … overwhelmed !!!
Love all of you ..
Amitabh Bachchan
NY 10021 NYC, USA May 2, 2013 Thu 4 :30 PM
This is a tribute to the wonderful Ef in US … and all their terrific efforts for the Gatsby premiere last night at the Lincoln Centre, New York at the ‘red carpet’ .. which was actually ‘black’
the above is a creation by Moses ..
the troopers .. so obliged to you and filled with adoration and love ..
this a presumptuous banner … but deeply humbled by it ..
My love and much much more …
Amitabh Bachchan
NY 10021 NYC, USA May 1/2, 2013 Wed/Thu 12 : 45 AM
Dearest ones !
I am at a loss for words to express my sincere thanks to those of the Ef and of those without, that brought Lincoln Centre to a halt this evening, at the premiere of The Great Gatsby …
The film and the contents and the description of the evening shall be given later. I am tired and jet lagged and need some sleep ..
Do excuse me … I wish to dream and live with the love of those that have always showered me with it ….
Amitabh Bachchan
NY 10021 NY, USA Apr/May 30, 2013 Tue/Wed 12 : 45 AM
This really is the most inappropriate time to be writing this missive that has been on from the time of time .. jet lagged, sleep deprived, the head bobs into visions of meaningless actions, and when we push ourselves into coming back to reality because there is work to be done, the visuals are quite astonishing ..
I wonder if many got that ..
See … there is a thought process on when and as you write .. then the words as they transpose in front of you on a white screen, seem to fade away into another comatose world .. certain strong visions appear, and you wonder what they are when suddenly, you are brought back to reality, by the brain I would imagine … the drifting away has stopped, but for some strange reason those words that were present in describing the ‘dose-off’, reappear on the screen as you punch in the tabs, and for a while all is well, until you stop to check what has been written .. and horror of horrors you do not know how to comprehend, what in the world you have punched in !! It is disconcerting, delusional and everything that can be associated with large amounts of nonsense !!
So … you walk across to the wash room, splash some cold New York plumbed water on the extremities of the face, and return … and write … and try to see if better sense prevails ..
And that really ladies and gentlemen is what you are confronting now - a propped up regular positioning of the body, a comfortable yet workable conditioning of the lap top, and a cross legged, somewhat longer than most normal, posture ..
A few ‘jujups’ , sweet and crusty freshen the mouth, or perhaps it is the sugar that pucks you up and … there .. we are with sanity !!
And now I suddenly feel the anticipation of the film as it opens by the evening tomorrow ! Not so much the film per se, but the possibility of meeting up with those that come to cheer to encourage, to express love ..
What if the performance would be not of value, of snide and cynical gossip, of failed effort … what then …
Each creative output that waits for response from the audience it has been constructed for, has its moments of pleasure and destruction. We all hope that it is pleasurable, but are not always right. And that is the moment of reckoning. Are we going to accept the verdict and fight to rectify it, or are we lying back on past laurels without any care at all.
Most of what follows is delectably drenched in the pessimism of the nature .. but that is the way the cookie crumbles - to express the most used item of any year, and judge for yourself….
These expressions shall determine the strength of our association .. and that is the most valuable conversion one would have…. imagined !!
I imagine one must not push the sleep any further .. hence to shut eyes and soft headed pillows under the comfort and thoughts of the mind going wild with imagination … and before long it is morning again .. another day to worry and expectation …
Its never easy is it .. `/
My love -
Amitabh Bachchan
NY, NYC 10021 Apr 29, 2013 Mon 7 :20 PM
Just before I drop into complete and deep slumber, I thought I should at least connect with my familia, and tell them that the reaching to JFK was indeed safe and in sound condition.. the special services, airport authorities, Warner Bros., and some mean looking security, made sure my arrival was quick and rapid ..
Meeting up with the wife and working out what follows in the days to come discussed, now almost horizontal for a few hours … and then .. GG !!
There seems to be quite a buzz for the film ! Media, papers, magazines filled with reports, lifestyles changing around the theme of the ‘roaring 20’s’, fashions and parties as their theme, and so on …
An age of opulence desperately close to decadence, soon after the first war and almost leading into the next, Gatsby as he was popularly known from his original Gatz, has been creating an iconic interest globally … thanks to the massive media blitz by the studios, and many personalised inputs ..
A classic love story that eventually ends somewhat tragically, shall, what the director and the Producers feel will be the ultimate outcome of such experiments. The music, contemporary in its approach but never letting off from the time of the period, the clothes all through designer systems from some of the most prominent brands, adorn the main stars of the film, and then there is the master and the genius of the man call Baz Lurhmann.
Give it up for Bachchan !!
Love you all … spelling seems to be vacant as does the sense … but it should be a short sleep and then more …
Gn
Amitabh Bahchan
The Isles through the zero time, Apr 29, 2013 Mon 7 :40 AM gmt
Phew !! Finally found some methodology independently without the assistance of the team to be able to load some of the pictures from the promotional acts of the new season of KBC, about to start registrations on the 27th of May .. for the show to broadcast end August, early September !!
Hummghmm … that was a pretty long sentence ! Not recommended for good writing ! Need to improve on that ..
Its a few moments to board again for the ‘new frontier’ and the activities for ‘Gatsby’ ! There seems to be a huge rush of talk, comment, media and general interest in the nature of the times and the environment of TGG .. one of the prominent media reporters in Mumbai celebrates his birthday with the theme of Gatsby for his guets !! I presume many others shall follow ..
Travelling so far has kept me connected to the IPL, but what happens when we are in the land of the ‘stars and stripes’. Are there any among you that may have suggestions on its access ? Do inform. The season has been quite unique this time around.
Some of the Ef have been sending in their writings and poems individually and I have desired to share them with the rest but, when the system breaks down, it suddenly deflates all other reason and interest. I hope soon enough all shall be restored on this magical lap contraption !
Whoever thought the ‘lap’ would be of such importance, other than of course being the most convenient seating arrangement, humanly. But really … the convenience of information derived from such instrumentation has taken away the old order of learning and study under recognised gurus and teachers. All of those greats have either taken voluntary retirement or have become contributors to systems that design information.
A disease, a historical fact, an event, a culture, a mathematical solution, weather conditions …. are all now within me and my accumen of how to access it on my ‘lap’ ..
I write today ahead of time and circumstance, for I do not know how the factors for doing so shall be once I reach final destination. But … and but is most valid argument … if there is facility and time, more shall follow ..
My love then … and hopefully shall be with you when greater oceans hace been crossed ..
Amitabh Bachchan
Beyond the gate among the Isles Apr 28, 2013 Sun 9 : 25 AM
A most jet lagged system, eased away between the moments and hours of flying , does take its toll … mine certainly does, and at times it deliberates me to consider whether we could possibly have some cure for it !!
In between destinations and rest, there is further travel to the Apple ! And subsequently to the land of the great cinema festival, in the South of France ..
With so many movements it is the most creditable exercise to be able to pack clothes for not one but three destinations …
My desire too to post pictures on the Blog have been jeopardised, by the application that served me for so long, to break down. But … there is hope for the future and the function that started with somewhat of a handicraft industry ie. wanting to do things on your own, has put me back for a while .. hopefully the team shall find solutions …
The IPL fever spreads all over the world, and it has become a talking point of immense proportions, in every nick and corner of our universe .. Wishing that this mountain of faith and resolve, for the game persists, not just for the benefit of the Government, but for individual interests as well ..
Rest is now most imminent ! let me be away again tonight , absence shall and will make our holdings closer … and I would have that benefit of those that came over to us ..
With love,
Amitabh Bachchan